Publications by authors named "Lorreta Kwasah"
Background The World Health Organization recommends surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at points of entry to systematically collect and analyze data to inform decisions about the effective and appropriate use of resources needed for interventions. This study sought to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants imported into Ghana by travelers entering the country via land borders from February to July 2022. Methods A cross-sectional approach was employed, where recruited participants consented to the collection of oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal samples.
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- * 17% of the samples tested positive for the virus, with a higher prevalence in wastewater (11%) compared to sewage (6%), particularly in the Greater Accra Region.
- * Despite finding viral RNA, attempts to isolate the virus were unsuccessful, indicating that while SARS-CoV-2 persists in the environment, it may not be infectious in these samples.
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect on influenza activity globally. In this study, we analyzed trends of influenza activity in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using active prospective influenza surveillance data from 29 sentinel sites.
Background: Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and guiding public health decisions, but the capacity for SARS-CoV-2 testing and sequencing in Africa is low. We integrated SARS-CoV-2 surveillance into an existing influenza surveillance network with the aim of providing insights into SARS-CoV-2 transmission and genomics in Ghana.
Methods: In this molecular epidemiological analysis, which is part of a wider multifaceted prospective observational study, we collected national SARS-CoV-2 test data from 35 sites across 16 regions in Ghana from Sept 1, 2020, to Nov 30, 2021, via the Ghanaian integrated influenza and SARS-CoV-2 surveillance network.