AI Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to analyze changes in the prevalence and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza among Egyptian pilgrims returning from Hajj and Umrah in 2022.
- Researchers surveyed 3,862 pilgrims, gathering data on demographics, respiratory symptoms, COVID-19 and influenza vaccination status, and conducting viral testing through RT-PCR.
- Results showed an increase in SARS-CoV-2 prevalence from Umrah to Hajj (6.7% vs. 9.9%), while influenza rates remained stable, indicating a potential surge in COVID-19 cases during the winter months.
Article Abstract
Purpose: To describe the changes that occurred in the SARS-CoV-2 and influenza Prevalence, epidemiology, clinical picture, and prevalent genotypes among the Egyptian pilgrims returning from Hajj and Umrah 2022 seasons.
Methods: Pilgrims were contacted at the airport and invited to participate in the survey. Pilgrims who consented were interviewed using a standardized line list that included participant demographics, respiratory symptoms if any, previous COVID-19 infection, influenza vaccination whereas COVID-19 vaccination information were collected from vaccination cards. Participants were asked to provide throat and nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza testing using RT-PCR and a subset of isolates were sequenced. Descriptive data analysis was performed to describe the epidemiology and clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. Prevalence rates of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza during Hajj were calculated and compared to Umrah surveys using chi and t-test with a significance level < 0.05.
Results: Overall, 3,862 Egyptian pilgrims enrolled, their mean age was 50.5 ± 47 years, half of them were > 50 years of age and 58.2% were males. Of them, 384 (9.9%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 51 (1.3%) for influenza viruses. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections (vaccine breakthrough) increased significantly between the Umrah and Hajj surveys (6.7% vs. 9.9%, p < 0.001), and variants of the virus varied considerably. Whereas no significant difference was found in influenza prevalence, vaccine coverage and vaccine breakthrough infection rates (11.7 vs. 9.2%, 26.9 vs. 26.8%, and 1.4 vs. 1.1% respectively).
Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 prevalence among Egyptian pilgrims returning from Hajj in July increased with reduced vaccine effectiveness compared to Umrah in March 2022 suggesting a possible wave of SARS-CoV-2 in the upcoming winter.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10785524 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13690-023-01229-6 | DOI Listing |
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