Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Mar 9;74(5):882-890.
doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab515.

High Prevalence of Anti-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Anti-SARS-CoV-2) Antibodies After the First Wave of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Results of a Cross-sectional Household-Based Survey

Antoine N Nkuba  1   2   3 , Sheila M Makiala  2   3 , Emilande Guichet  1 , Paul M Tshiminyi  2 , Yannick M Bazitama  2   3   4 , Marc K Yambayamba  5 , Benito M Kazenza  6 , Trésor M Kabeya  2 , Elysee B Matungulu  2 , Lionel K Baketana  2 , Naomi M Mitongo  2 , Guillaume Thaurignac  1 , Fabian H Leendertz  7 , Veerle Vanlerberghe  8 , Raphaël Pelloquin  1 , Jean-François Etard  1   9 , David Maman  9 , Placide K Mbala  2   3 , Ahidjo Ayouba  1 , Martine Peeters  1 , Jean-Jacques T Muyembe  2   3 , Eric Delaporte  1 , Steve M Ahuka  2   3
Affiliations

High Prevalence of Anti-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Anti-SARS-CoV-2) Antibodies After the First Wave of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Results of a Cross-sectional Household-Based Survey

Antoine N Nkuba et al. Clin Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: In October 2020, after the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), only 8290 confirmed cases were reported in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the real prevalence remains unknown. To guide public health policies, we aimed to describe the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in the general population in Kinshasa.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, household-based serosurvey between 22 October 2020 and 8 November 2020. Participants were interviewed at home and tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins in a Luminex-based assay. A positive serology was defined as a sample that reacted with both SARS-CoV-2 proteins (100% sensitivity, 99.7% specificity). The overall weighted, age-standardized prevalence was estimated and the infection-to-case ratio was calculated to determine the proportion of undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Results: A total of 1233 participants from 292 households were included (mean age, 32.4 years; 764 [61.2%] women). The overall weighted, age-standardized SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 16.6% (95% CI: 14.0-19.5%). The estimated infection-to-case ratio was 292:1. Prevalence was higher among participants ≥40 years than among those <18 years (21.2% vs 14.9%, respectively; P < .05). It was also higher in participants who reported hospitalization than among those who did not (29.8% vs 16.0%, respectively; P < .05). However, differences were not significant in the multivariate model (P = .1).

Conclusions: The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 is much higher than the number of COVID-19 cases reported. These results justify the organization of a sequential series of serosurveys by public health authorities to adapt response measures to the dynamics of the pandemic.

Keywords: Africa; DRC; SARS-CoV-2; general population; serological survey.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flowchart of participant inclusion during the SARS-CoV-2 household-based serosurvey. Abbreviation: SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Juma CA, Mushabaa NK, Abdu Salam F, Ahmadi A, Lucero-Prisno DE. COVID-19: the current situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 103:2168–70. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Whembolua GL, Tshiswaka DI. Public trust in the time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19): the case of the DR Congo. Pan Afr Med J 2020; 35:1–2. - PMC - PubMed
    1. United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees. Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE)—COVID-19. Available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5e84a8874.html. Accessed 16 February 2021.
    1. Walker PGT, Whittaker C, Watson OJ, et al. . The impact of COVID-19 and strategies for mitigation and suppression in low- and middle-income countries. Science 2020; 369:413–22. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wells CR, Stearns JK, Lutumba P, Galvani AP. COVID-19 on the African continent. Lancet Infect Dis 2020; 20:1368–70. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

Substances