Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2–Specific Antibodies among Quarantined Close Contacts of COVID-19 Patients, Faroe Islands, 2020

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–specific antibodies among quarantined close contacts of COVID-19 patients in the Faroe Islands. We invited quarantin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging Infectious Diseases
Main Authors: Maria Skaalum Petersen, Marnar Fríðheim Kristiansen, Halla Weihe Reinert, Jógvan Páll Fjallsbak, Debes Hammershaimb Christiansen, Shahin Gaini, Bjarni á Steig, Lars Fodgaard Møller, Marin Strøm, Pál Weihe
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2021
Subjects:
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence
close contacts
Faroe Islands
secondary attack rate
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Medicine
R
Infectious and parasitic diseases
RC109-216
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2711.204948
https://doaj.org/article/347b95c914674ae3b940bfc386d07771
Description
Summary: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–specific antibodies among quarantined close contacts of COVID-19 patients in the Faroe Islands. We invited quarantined close contacts of COVID-19 index patients identified 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 SARS-CoV-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.

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