Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies in Kenyan Blood Donors

Overview

Journal Science

Specialty Science

Date 2020 Nov 12

PMID 33177105

Citations 172

Authors

Sophie Uyoga

Ifedayo M O Adetifa

Henry K Karanja

James Nyagwange

James Tuju

Perpetual Wanjiku

Rashid Aman

Mercy Mwangangi

Patrick Amoth

Kadondi Kasera

Wangari Nganga

Charles Rombo

Christine Yegon

Khamisi Kithi

Elizabeth Odhiambo

Thomas Rotich

Irene Orgut

Sammy Kihara

Mark Otiende

Christian Bottomley

Zonia N Mupe

Eunice W Kagucia

Katherine E Gallagher

Anthony Etyang

Shirine Voller

John N Gitonga

Daisy Mugo

Charles N Agoti

Edward Otieno

Leonard Ndwiga

Teresa Lambe

Daniel Wright

Edwine Barasa

Benjamin Tsofa

Philip Bejon

Lynette I Ochola-Oyier

Ambrose Agweyu

J Anthony G Scott

George M Warimwe

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Africa is poorly described. The first case of SARS-CoV-2 in Kenya was reported on 12 March 2020, and an overwhelming number of cases and deaths were expected, but by 31 July 2020, there were only 20,636 cases and 341 deaths. However, the extent of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in the community remains unknown. We determined the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G among blood donors in Kenya in April-June 2020. Crude seroprevalence was 5.6% (174 of 3098). Population-weighted, test-performance-adjusted national seroprevalence was 4.3% (95% confidence interval, 2.9 to 5.8%) and was highest in urban counties Mombasa (8.0%), Nairobi (7.3%), and Kisumu (5.5%). SARS-CoV-2 exposure is more extensive than indicated by case-based surveillance, and these results will help guide the pandemic response in Kenya and across Africa.

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