TY - JOUR AU - Fokam, Joseph AU - Takou, Désiré AU - Nka, Alex Durand AU - Ka’e, Aude Christelle AU - Yagai, Bouba AU - Ambe Chenwi, Collins AU - Ngoufack Jagni Semengue, Ezechiel AU - Angong Beloumou, Grâce AU - Djupsa Ndjeyep, Sandrine Claire AU - Abba, Aissatou AU - Pabo, Willy AU - Gouissi, Davy AU - Tommo Tchouaket, Michel Carlos AU - Yatchou, Laeticia AU - Zam, Krystel AU - Mama, Lucien AU - Ekitti, Regine Claudette AU - Fainguem, Nadine AU - Kamgaing, Rachel AU - Sosso, Samuel Martin AU - Ndembi, Nicaise AU - Colizzi, Vittorio AU - Perno, Carlo-Federico AU - Ndjolo, Alexis PY - 2022/05/24 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - 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 JF - Journal of Public Health in Africa JA - J Public Health Afr VL - 13 IS - 1 SE - Original Articles DO - 10.4081/jphia.2022.2142 UR - https://publichealthinafrica.org/jphia/article/view/2142 SP - AB - <p>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 22<sup>nd</sup>, 2020 to January 5<sup>th</sup>, 2021. Out of 14119 individuals (59.8% male), overall SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 12.7% (from 7.9% in &lt;10 years to 17.3% in &gt;60 years, p&lt;0.001). The positivity rate of symptomatic individuals was 36.1% versus 9.8% among asymptomatic ones, p&lt;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&lt;0.001] were predictors of SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Regarding PCR Cycle Threshold (CT), 53.8% of positive individuals had a CT &lt;30. According to age, compared to older individuals, those aged 21-40 years showed a higher proportion with high viraemia (CT&lt;20; 21.3% <em>versus</em> 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&lt;0.001. During this first wave of the pandemic, overall SARS-CoV-2 positivity remained high (&gt;10%) and was associated with the presence of symptoms and older age. Most of the infection is among young and asymptomatic individuals, suggesting the “<em>track-and-test</em>” strategy should target these potential transmitters.</p> ER -