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Incidence, risk factors, and whole-genome sequence of SARs-CoV-2 and influenza virus among the Egyptian pilgrims returning from Umrah mass gathering in Saudi Arabia, April-May 2022.
Kandeel, Amr; Fahim, Manal; Deghedy, Ola; Alim, Walaa; Roshdy, Wael H; Khalifa, Mohamed K; El Shesheny, Rabeh; Kandeil, Ahmed; Naguib, Amel; Elguindy, Nancy; Abdel Fattah, Mohammad; Afifi, Salma; Mohsen, Amira; Abdelghaffar, Khaled.
  • Kandeel A; Preventive Sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: kandeelamr@yahoo.com.
  • Fahim M; Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Preventive Sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: fahimmanal@yahoo.com.
  • Deghedy O; Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Preventive Sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: olasalah664@yahoo.com.
  • Alim W; Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Preventive Sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: walaa_alim111@hotmail.com.
  • Roshdy WH; Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: waelhamedroshdy@yahoo.com.
  • Khalifa MK; Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: mohamed.kamal@omicsense.com.
  • El Shesheny R; Centre of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, 12622 Dokki, Giza, Egypt. Electronic address: ra_eny@yahoo.com.
  • Kandeil A; Centre of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, 12622 Dokki, Giza, Egypt. Electronic address: ahmed.kandeil@stjude.org.
  • Naguib A; Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: amelnaguib11@gmail.com.
  • Elguindy N; Central Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: nancy_el_guindy@hotmail.com.
  • Abdel Fattah M; Preventive Sector, Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: mohpaf@yahoo.com.
  • Afifi S; Ministry of Health and Population Consultant, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: afifisalma1@gmail.com.
  • Mohsen A; World Health Organization, Egypt Country Office, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: amahmed@who.int.
  • Abdelghaffar K; Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: Khaledabdelghaffar1@gmail.com.
J Infect Public Health ; 15(11): 1290-1296, 2022 Oct 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2086451
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Ramadan Umrah is the second largest Islamic pilgrimage with 2.75 million pilgrims allowed in 2022. This report presents the results of a survey among Egyptian pilgrims returning from Ramadan Umrah to monitor SARS-CoV-2 and influenza activity and identify prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variants after this mass gathering.

METHODS:

Cross-sectional survey conducted at Cairo airport from 30th April 2022-5 th May 2022. Pilgrims were invited to participate voluntarily. After consenting, participants interviewed using questionnaire including demographics, health status, and vaccination information and asked to provide NP/OP swabs for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza testing by RT-PCR. Whole-genome sequencing performed for 29 SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Incidence calculated, descriptive data analysis performed, and SARS-CoV-2 patients were compared to negatively tested participants using chi2 and p value< 0.05.

RESULTS:

Overall, 1003 subjects participated, their mean age 50.9 ± 13 years, 594 (59.2%) were males. Of them, 76(7.6%) tested positive including 67(6.7%) SARS-CoV-2, 7(0.7%) influenza and 2(0.2%) SARS-CoV-2/influenza coinfection. Omicron sublineage BA.2 was the prevalent variant with no difference in severity identified between BA.1 and BA.2. No difference was identified between COVID-19 incidence among receivers of different vaccine types or between fully vaccinated and booster dose receivers.

CONCLUSIONS:

Survey indicated a low incidence of SARs-CoV-2 and influenza among Egyptian pilgrims returning from Ramadan Umrah. Patients had mild or no symptoms with no hospitalization or deaths reported. Full vaccination and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines proved equally effective. Enhancing COVID-19 and influenza vaccination before mass gatherings and close monitoring of respiratory viruses among pilgrims returning from Hajj and Umrah are crucial for outbreak early detection and mitigation.
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Vaccines / Variants Language: English Journal: J Infect Public Health Journal subject: Communicable Diseases / Public Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Vaccines / Variants Language: English Journal: J Infect Public Health Journal subject: Communicable Diseases / Public Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article