Investigation of a COVID-19 outbreak on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, March to April 2020: a retrospective cohort study.
Euro Surveill
; 27(21)2022 05.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1875326
ABSTRACT
BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 emergence was a threat for armed forces. A COVID-19 outbreak occurred on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle from mid-March to mid-April 2020.AimTo understand how the virus was introduced, circulated then stopped circulation, risk factors for infection and severity, and effectiveness of preventive measures.MethodsWe considered the entire crew as a cohort and collected personal, clinical, biological, and epidemiological data. We performed viral genome sequencing and searched for SARS-CoV-2 in the environment.ResultsThe attack rate was 65% (1,148/1,767); 1,568 (89%) were included. The malefemale ratio was 6.9, and median age was 29 years (IQR 24-36). We examined four clinical profiles asymptomatic (13.0%), non-specific symptomatic (8.1%), specific symptomatic (76.3%), and severe (i.e. requiring oxygen therapy, 2.6%). Active smoking was not associated with severe COVID-19; age and obesity were risk factors. The instantaneous reproduction rate (Rt) and viral sequencing suggested several introductions of the virus with 4 of 5 introduced strains from within France, with an acceleration of Rt when lifting preventive measures. Physical distancing prevented infection (adjusted OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.40-0.76). Transmission may have stopped when the proportion of infected personnel was large enough to prevent circulation (65%; 95% CI 62-68).ConclusionNon-specific clinical pictures of COVID-19 delayed detection of the outbreak. The lack of an isolation ward made it difficult to manage transmission; the outbreak spread until a protective threshold was reached. Physical distancing was effective when applied. Early surveillance with adapted prevention measures should prevent such an outbreak.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
1560-7917.ES.2022.27.21.2100612
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