Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 IgG in Juba, South Sudan, 2020

• Main Authors: Kirsten E. Wiens, Pinyi Nyimol Mawien, John Rumunu, Damien Slater, Forrest K. Jones, Serina Moheed, Andrea Caflisch, Bior K. Bior, Iboyi Amanya Jacob, Richard Lino Lako, Argata Guracha Guyo, Olushayo Oluseun Olu, Sylvester Maleghemi, Andrew Baguma, Juma John Hassen, Sheila K. Baya, Lul Deng, Justin Lessler, Maya N. Demby, Vanessa Sanchez, Rachel Mills, Clare Fraser, Richelle C. Charles, Jason B. Harris, Andrew S. Azman, Joseph F. Wamala
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2021-06-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: antibodies; coronavirus disease; COVID-19; influenza; Juba; respiratory infections
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/6/21-0568_article
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059

Relatively few coronavirus disease cases and deaths have been reported from sub-Saharan Africa, although the extent of its spread remains unclear. During August 10–September 11, 2020, we recruited 2,214 participants for a representative household-based cross-sectional serosurvey in Juba, South Sudan. We found 22.3% of participants had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor binding domain IgG titers above prepandemic levels. After accounting for waning antibody levels, age, and sex, we estimated that 38.3% (95% credible interval 31.8%–46.5%) of the population had been infected with SARS-CoV-2. At this rate, for each PCR–confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection reported by the Ministry of Health, 103 (95% credible interval 86–126) infections would have been unreported, meaning SARS-CoV-2 has likely spread extensively within Juba. We also found differences in background reactivity in Juba compared with Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where the immunoassay was validated. Our findings underscore the need to validate serologic tests in sub-Saharan Africa populations.