%0 Journal Article
%T Epidemiological, virological and clinical features of SARS-CoV-2 among individuals during the first wave in Cameroon: Baseline analysis for the EDCTP PERFECT-Study RIA2020EF-3000.
%A Fokam J
%A Takou D
%A Nka AD
%A Ka'e AC
%A Yagai B
%A Ambe Chenwi C
%A Ngoufack Jagni Semengue E
%A Angong Beloumou G
%A Djupsa Ndjeyep SC
%A Abba A
%A Pabo W
%A Gouissi D
%A Tommo Tchouaket MC
%A Yatchou L
%A Zam K
%A Mama L
%A Ekitti RC
%A Fainguem N
%A Kamgaing R
%A Sosso SM
%A Ndembi N
%A Colizzi V
%A Perno CF
%A Ndjolo A
%J J Public Health Afr
%V 13
%N 1
%D May 2022 24
%M 35720804
暂无%R 10.4081/jphia.2022.2142
%X In Cameroon, COVID-19 infection spread rapidly and nationwide, with up to 721 deaths reported. To the best of our knowledge, no study reported the on-theground data using a large patients' dataset to give a comprehensive knowledge on COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon. The objective of this study was to shade lights on the epidemiological, virological and clinical features of COVID-19 in the Cameroonian context. An observational study was conducted among symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR on nasopharyngeal samples from April 22nd, 2020 to January 5th, 2021. Out of 14119 individuals (59.8% male), overall SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 12.7% (from 7.9% in <10 years to 17.3% in >60 years, p<0.001). The positivity rate of symptomatic individuals was 36.1% versus 9.8% among asymptomatic ones, p<0.001. Age group ≤10 [aOR (95%CI): 0.515 (0.338-0.784), p=0.002] and being symptomatic [aOR (95% CI): 5.108 (4.521-5.771), p<0.001] were predictors of SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Regarding PCR Cycle Threshold (CT), 53.8% of positive individuals had a CT <30. According to age, compared to older individuals, those aged 21-40 years showed a higher proportion with high viraemia (CT<20; 21.3% versus 12.5% respectively, p=0.003). Similarly, symptomatic individuals showed a higher proportion with high viraemia (22.4%), when compared to asymptomatic (13.9%); p<0.001. During this first wave of the pandemic, overall SARS-CoV-2 positivity remained high (>10%) and was associated with the presence of symptoms and older age. Most of the infection is among young and asymptomatic individuals, suggesting the "track-and-test" strategy should target these potential transmitters.