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The first sixty days of COVID-19 in a humanitarian response setting: a descriptive epidemiological analysis of the outbreak in South Sudan.
Waya, Joy Luba Lomole; Lako, Richard; Bunga, Sudhir; Chun, Helen; Mize, Valerie; Ambani, Boniface; Wamala, Joseph Francis; Guyo, Argata Guracha; Gray, John Henry; Gai, Malick; Maleghemi, Sylvester; Kol, Matthew; Rumunu, John; Tukuru, Michael; Olu, Olushayo Oluseun.
  • Waya JLL; COVID-19 Response Team, World Health Organization, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Lako R; National COVID-19 Incident Management System, Ministry of Health, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Bunga S; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
  • Chun H; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
  • Mize V; COVID-19 Response Team, World Health Organization, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Ambani B; COVID-19 Response Team, World Health Organization, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Wamala JF; COVID-19 Response Team, World Health Organization, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Guyo AG; COVID-19 Response Team, World Health Organization, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Gray JH; COVID-19 Response Team, World Health Organization, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Gai M; COVID-19 Response Team, World Health Organization, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Maleghemi S; COVID-19 Response Team, World Health Organization, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Kol M; National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Rumunu J; Ministry of Health, Directorate of Preventive Health Services, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Tukuru M; COVID-19 Response Team, World Health Organization, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
  • Olu OO; COVID-19 Response Team, World Health Organization, Juba, Republic of South Sudan.
Pan Afr Med J ; 37: 384, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1044667
ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. South Sudan, a low-income and humanitarian response setting, reported its first case of COVID-19 on April 5, 2020. We describe the socio-demographic and epidemiologic characteristics of COVID-19 cases in this setting.

METHODS:

we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of data for 1,330 confirmed COVID-19 cases from the first 60 days of the outbreak.

RESULTS:

among the 1,330 confirmed cases, the mean age was 37.1 years, 77% were male, 17% were symptomatic with 95% categorized as mild, and the case fatality rate was 1.1%. Only 24.7% of cases were detected through alerts and sentinel site surveillance, with 95% of the cases reported from the capital, Juba. Epidemic doubling time averaged 9.8 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.7 - 13.4), with an attack rate of 11.5 per 100,000 population. Test positivity rate was 18.2%, with test rate per 100,000 population of 53 and mean test turn-around time of 9 days. The case to contact ratio was 1 2.2.

CONCLUSION:

this 2-month initial period of COVID-19 in South Sudan demonstrated mostly young adults and men affected, with most cases reported as asymptomatic. Systems´ limitations highlighted included a small proportion of cases detected through surveillance, low testing rates, low contact elicitation, and long collection to test turn-around times limiting the country´s ability to effectively respond to the outbreak. A multi-pronged response including greater access to testing, scale-up of surveillance, contact tracing and community engagement, among other interventions are needed to improve the COVID-19 response in this setting.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Relief Work / Disease Outbreaks / COVID-19 Testing / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Pan Afr Med J Year: 2020 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Relief Work / Disease Outbreaks / COVID-19 Testing / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: English Journal: Pan Afr Med J Year: 2020 Document Type: Article