Seroprevalence of Alphaviruses (Togaviridae) among Urban Population in Nouakchott, Mauritania, West Africa

The presence of alphaviruses, such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV), has never been reported in Mauritania. We assessed the seroprevalence of CHIKV among Nouakchott residents. A cross-sectional study involving 1300 non-febrile patients consulting at the Nouakchott hospital center was conducted between January and June 2021. The presence of anti-CHIKV IgG and neutralizing antibodies against CHIKV, O'nyong-nyong virus (ONNV), and Semliki Forest virus (SFV) was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a serum neutralization test, respectively, and the associated risk factors were investigated. Of the 1300 study participants, serological evidence of previous exposure to CHIKV was observed in 37 individuals (2.8%). Sex, age, reported use of repellants, and bed net ownership and usage were not associated with CHIKV seropositivity. Our results showed the co-circulation of two other alphaviruses, ONNV and SFV, in Nouakchott in 30 (2.3%) individuals. This is the first study that documents the co-circulation of CHIKV, ONNV, and SFV in Mauritania, albeit at low prevalence. Surveillance and routine testing for alphaviruses and other arboviruses in symptomatic patients should be implemented in health facilities to assess the health burden associated with these viruses. Efforts should also be made to strengthen the vector control measures.

COVID-19 outbreak among French firefighters, Marseille, France, 2020

We investigated a COVID-19 outbreak at a fire station in Marseille, France. Confirmed cases were defined as individuals with positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and/or neutralising antibodies. All 85 firefighters at work during the outbreak period were included after questioning and sampled for RT-PCR and viral neutralisation assay. Twenty-three firefighters were confirmed positive, 19 of them were symptomatic, and four asymptomatic cases were confirmed by virus neutralisation. A total of 22 firefighters had specific neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Neutralising antibodies were found in four asymptomatic and 18 symptomatic cases. Eleven symptomatic cases had high titres (≥ 1:80). The earliest detection of neutralising antibodies was 7 days after symptom onset, and 80% had neutralising antibodies 15 days after onset. One viral culture was positive 13 days after onset. The attack rate was 27%. We identified two introductions of the virus in this outbreak, through a presymptomatic and a paucisymptomatic case. Asymptomatic cases were not the source of a third generation of cases, although they worked without wearing a mask, indicating that asymptomatic cases did not play a significant role in this outbreak. Management and strategy based on early research of clinical signs associated with self-quarantine was effective.