COVID-19 reinfection in Liberia: Implication for improving disease surveillance.

Autor: Akpan GE; Division of Field Epidemiology Training Program, African Field Epidemiology Network, Monrovia, Liberia., Bawo L; Department of Planning, Research and Development, Ministry of Health, Monrovia, Liberia., Amo-Addae M; Division of Field Epidemiology Training Program, African Field Epidemiology Network, Monrovia, Liberia., Kennedy J; Office of the Executive Director, Roads To Health (Roads to Rural and Vulnerable Population Health), Galloway, New Jersey, United States of America., Wesseh CS; Department of Planning, Research and Development, Ministry of Health, Monrovia, Liberia., Whesseh F; Division of Field Epidemiology Training Program, African Field Epidemiology Network, Monrovia, Liberia., Adewuyi P; Division of Field Epidemiology Training Program, African Field Epidemiology Network, Monrovia, Liberia., Sanvee-Blebo L; Division of Field Epidemiology Training Program, African Field Epidemiology Network, Monrovia, Liberia., Babalola J; Division of Field Epidemiology Training Program, African Field Epidemiology Network, Monrovia, Liberia., Sesay HWW; Division of Field Epidemiology Training Program, African Field Epidemiology Network, Monrovia, Liberia., Yeabah TO; Division of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia., Jackson D; Department of Planning, Research and Development, Ministry of Health, Monrovia, Liberia., Shannon F; Department of Planning, Research and Development, Ministry of Health, Monrovia, Liberia., Umeokonkwo CD; Division of Field Epidemiology Training Program, African Field Epidemiology Network, Monrovia, Liberia.; Department of Community Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria., Nyenswah AW; Division of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia., Macauley J; Office of the Director General, National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia., Jallah W; Office of the Minister, Ministry of Health, Monrovia, Liberia.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: PloS one [PLoS One] 2022 Mar 24; Vol. 17 (3), pp. e0265768. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Mar 24 (Print Publication: 2022).
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265768
Abstrakt: COVID-19 remains a serious disruption to human health, social, and economic existence. Reinfection with the virus intensifies fears and raises more questions among countries, with few documented reports. This study investigated cases of COVID-19 reinfection using patients' laboratory test results between March 2020 and July 2021 in Liberia. Data obtained from Liberia's Ministry of Health COVID-19 surveillance was analyzed in Excel 365 and ArcGIS Pro 2.8.2. Results showed that with a median interval of 200 days (Range: 99-415), 13 out of 5,459 cases were identified and characterized as reinfection in three counties during the country's third wave of the outbreak. Eighty-six percent of the COVID-19 reinfection cases occurred in Montserrado County within high clusters, which accounted for over 80% of the randomly distributed cases in Liberia. More cases of reinfection occurred among international travelers within populations with high community transmissions. This study suggests the need for continued public education and surveillance to encourage longer-term COVID-19 preventive practices even after recovery.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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