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Seroprevalence of sars-cov-2- specifi c antibodies among quarantined close contacts of covid-19 patients, faroe islands, 2020

  • Maria Skaalum Petersen*
  • , Marnar Frí heim Kristiansen
  • , Halla Weihe Reinert
  • , Jógvan Páll Fjallsbak
  • , Debes Hammershaimb Christiansen
  • , Shahin Gaini
  • , Bjarni á Steig
  • , Lars Fodgaard Møller
  • , Marin Strøm
  • , Pál Weihe
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • University of the Faroe Islands
  • National Hospital of the Faroe Islands
  • Ministry of Health COVID-19 Task Force
  • Faroese Hospital System
  • Faroese Food and Veterinary Authority
  • Chief Medical Offi cer Offi ce
  • Statens Serum Institut

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

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Abstract

Close contacts of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients are at high risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We assessed the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specifi c antibodies among quarantined close contacts of COVID-19 patients in the Faroe Islands. We invited quarantined close contacts of COVID-19 index patients identifi ed during March 3-April 22, 2020, to participate in this study; 584 (81%) contacts consented and underwent serologic testing. Among the 584 participants, 32 (5.5%) were seropositive for total antibody against SARSCoV- 2. Household and young or elderly contacts had higher risk for seropositivity than other contacts.We found a secondary attack rate of 19.2%. Seroprevalence among close contacts was almost 10-fold higher than among the general population of the Faroe Islands. Regularly testing household close contacts of COVID-19 patients might help track the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases
Volume27
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)2795-2801
ISSN1080-6059
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved.

Funding

The project is funded by the special COVID-19 funding from the Faroese Research Council.

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