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. 2021 Feb;36(2):219-222.
doi: 10.1007/s10654-020-00716-2. Epub 2021 Feb 6.

Evidence of early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in France: findings from the population-based "CONSTANCES" cohort

Fabrice Carrat  1 , Julie Figoni  2 , Joseph Henny  3   4 , Jean-Claude Desenclos  2 , Sofiane Kab  3   4 , Xavier de Lamballerie  5 , Marie Zins  3   4
Affiliations

Evidence of early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in France: findings from the population-based "CONSTANCES" cohort

Fabrice Carrat et al. Eur J Epidemiol. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Using serum samples routinely collected in 9144 adults from a French general population-based cohort, we identified 353 participants with a positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG test, among whom 13 were sampled between November 2019 and January 2020 and were confirmed by neutralizing antibodies testing. Investigations in 11 of these participants revealed experience of symptoms possibly related to a SARS-CoV-2 infection or situations at risk of potential SARS-CoV-2 exposure. This suggests early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in Europe.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cohort; General population; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number of blood samples tested each week for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by ELISA-S IgG test (horizontal bars) and percentages of ELISA-S positive test (red dots, with exact 95% Confidence Interval) in adult participants from the CONSTANCES cohort, France
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Participants with a positive ELISA-S or a positive SN anti-SARS-CoV-2 test in the CONSTANCES cohort
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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