SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Seroprevalence in Children and Workers from Belgian French-Speaking Primary Schools

Purpose: During the COVID-19 pandemic, closing schools was discussed to limit the virus transmission, despite a lack of evidence on the role of young children in the virus spread. We undertook a study among Belgian primary schools to assess the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence and its relationship with local incidence, school size, and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: Schools were purposively selected using three criteria: an area with either a low or a high COVID-19 incidence, either a small or a large size, and either a low or a high SES. 932 (/2488, 38%) children and 242 (/444, 55%) staff signed informed consent. COVID-19 antibodies were tested using rapid finger prick tests. Results: Children participation was positively correlated with staff (r = +0.33;95% CI [−0.34;0.78]), and strongly with SES (r = +0.81;95% CI [0.40;0.95]). Seroprevalence was 21% in children (191/922) and 25% in staff (61/240). Seroprevalence did not correlate with local cumulative incidence (children: r = +0.06;95% CI [−0.59;0.67];staff: r = +0.26;95% CI [−0.40;0.74]). In staff, seroprevalence was higher in schools with higher SES (r = +0.37;95% CI [−0.29;0.79]), but not in children (r = −0.10;95% CI [−0.66;0.53]). Conclusion:The lower seroprevalence in children suggests they are lower transmitters than adults, but poor socioeconomic levels were less representative.

Children and Workers Well-Being in Belgian French-Speaking Primary Schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of measures were taken worldwide to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and in many ways, changed human life. All these measures had harmful consequences and impacted the well-being of many people. Children were one of the most vulnerable groups. We conducted the present study to assess children’s and staff’s well-being in French-speaking primary schools in Belgium during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A 37-question questionnaire for each child based on the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), and a 14-question questionnaire for each staff based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale was undertaken in order to assess the well-being. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to assess the relationship between RCMAS or HAD and other explanatory variables. Staff reported their perception of their current life and their future life in 5 years on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: A total of 231 children and 221 staff in 11 primary schools answered the well-being questionnaire between January and May 2021. 53% (122/231) of children had symptoms of anxiety. Girls reported more anxiety symptoms than boys (≥10: 59%;Adj OR = 2.25;95% CI [1.28;4.03]). 52% (120/231) of children had a definite state of social desirability. According to age, the youngest (6 - 7 years) children were more likely to have social desirability (≥5: 71%;Adj OR = 3.44;95% CI [1.53;8.09]) compared to the oldest (10 - 12 years). Children who did not practice outdoor/street activities were more likely to have social desirability (≥5: 60%;Adj OR = 2.59;95% CI [1.38;4.99]). In schools with a higher local incidence of SARS-CoV-2, children were more likely to have social desirability (≥5: 64%;Adj OR = 2.15;95% CI [1.13;4.17]). In schools with a lower socioeconomic status, children were more likely to have social desirability (≥5: 72%;Adj OR = 2.74;95% CI [1.23;6.37]). Higher RCMAS anxiety (r = −0.18;p −0.23;p −0.20;p Conclusion: Our results showed that the well-being of children was impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Special attention must be focused on the most vulnerable groups, as the consequences can be catastrophic in the long term.

Management Problems of Trans-Frontier Yellow Fever Cases in Burkina Faso 2010

This last decade, Burkina Faso has been confronted with yellow fever confirmed cases, mainly from Western part of the country. In 2010, National Reference laboratory of yellow fever received 970 sera of suspected cases from the 65 Health Districts of the country. We found 11 positive results by ELISA test researching specific IgM against yellow fever. An aliquot of these eleven positive sera were sent to Dakar for confirmation by sero neutralization and RT-PCR. Eight have been confirmed by regional laboratory of Pasteur Institute of Dakar and three were classified as doubtful. Confirmed cases were manly notified by Sindou (4/8) and Mangodara (3/8) Health Districts and the last one came from Nongr-masson health District situated in the central part of the country. Three out of the four confirmed cases in Sindou Health District were resident from neighboring village in Ivory Cost. Conformed cases coming from neighboring villages of Ivory Cost were difficult to manage because of the relative lack of coordination between the two health centers responsible in two different countries. The three cases were not notified to Ivory Cost Health authorities and, in addition, they didn’t benefit from the Burkina Faso response plan. The goal of this work is to present results from National Reference yellow fever laboratory in 2010 in Burkina Faso and stressing trans-frontier cases management problems in order to suggest a multinational mechanism of response to fight against this disease more effectively.

Neisseria meningitis serogroup X outbreak in Burkina Faso,2009-2010

Background: Centre MURAZ of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) organized in 2009 and 2010 a system of Cerobro-Spinal Fluid (CSF) collection in eight pilot Districts as an initial step for the future Ministry of Health’s led strategy of individual surveillance in a context of meningococcal conjugate A vaccine introduction. Methods: CSF samples were analyzed with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This allowed for meningitis etiologies dynamics studies in the pilot Districts. Results: Because of geographical difficulties and lack of means, less than 40% of suspected cases had their CSF analyzed at PCR reference laboratory. In 2009, among confirmed cases at reference laboratory, Sp (Streptococcus pneumonia), NmA (Neisseria meningitis A) and Hib (Hemophilus influenzae b) were responsible respectively for 90%, 6.6% and 4.4% of cases. In 2010, serogroup distribution among confirmed cases was: Sp 62.7%, NmX 32.2% and NmA 5.1%. Sp which was continuously present in Burkina Faso takes more significant proportions, just as serogroup X which until there was sporadically encountered. The attack rates of NmX were tree to twelve times higher than for NmA in the two Districts where NmX has been notified. Conclusion: As a consequence of such results, efforts must be maintained in epidemiologic surveillance field and in reinforcement of laboratory capacities. Fast care should be guaranteed to patients with adequate antibiotics according to country national guideline and chemoprophylaxis measures should be undertaken among contacts of patients to prevent secondary cases. A plea must be made on one hand for pneumococcal vaccine introduction in Burkina Faso and on other hand towards manufacturers for taking into account serogroup X into meningococcal polyvalent vaccine composition. With this polyvalent vaccine including serougruop X, we suggested to conduct periodically mass campaign vaccination of people before the beginning of meningitis epidemiological season.

Burden of Invasive Candidiasis in West Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is an emerging opportunistic fungal infection associated with high mortality among hospitalized patients. Although the epidemiology of IC is progressively changing worldwide, the trend in Africa still needs to be established. This review aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of IC in Western region of Africa. A comprehensive literature search was performed on major electronic databases to identify relevant articles. DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was used to pool overall prevalence and estimated incidence data. We identified 1975 articles, among which 23 met our inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Available data showed that only 50% (8/16) of West African countries were reported data on IC and only 25% reported at least one laboratory confirmed IC case. The global prevalence of candidemia and non-candidemic deep-seated candidiasis were 0.35% [95% CI 0.23;0.47] and 0.32% [95% CI 0.00;2.03], respectively. Among clinical IC cases, only 5.21% were reported before 2010, while 50.08% were reported in the past 5 years. The pooled estimated incidence was 5.55/100,000 [95% CI 5.46;5.64] and 1.15/100,000 [95% CI 1.11;1.19, 95% CI]/inhabitants for candidemia, and Candida peritonitis, respectively. The case fatality rate was 57.58%. Low gestational age, exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics and invasive procedures were associated with a higher risk of IC in newborn patients. Candida albicans (32.98%) was the most common causative species of IC followed by C. tropicalis (11.34%) and C. parapsilosis (6.19%). This study showed the scarcity of IC data in western region of Africa and the existence of undiagnosed IC cases.