Coinfection between SARS‐CoV‐2 and vector‐borne diseases in Luanda, Angola

• Published in: Journal of medical virology Vol. 94; no. 1; pp. 366 - 371
• Main Authors: Sebastião, Cruz S., Gaston, Celestina, Paixão, Joana Paula, Sacomboio, Euclides N. M., Neto, Zoraima, Vasconcelos, Jocelyne Neto, Morais, Joana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Algorithms; Angola; Angola - epidemiology; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Chikungunya Fever - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; coinfection; Coinfection - epidemiology; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 Testing; Cross-Sectional Studies; dengue; Dengue - epidemiology; Dengue fever; Epidemics; Female; Health care; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infections; Luanda; Malaria; Malaria - epidemiology; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Public health; RNA, Viral - blood; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; SARS‐CoV‐2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sex Factors; Vector Borne Diseases - epidemiology; Vector-borne diseases; Viral diseases; Virology; Young Adult; Zika Virus Infection - epidemiology; Angola; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Angola; vector-borne diseases; malaria; Luanda; coinfection; dengue
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27354
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071

Co‐epidemics happening simultaneously can generate a burden on healthcare systems. The co‐occurrence of SARS‐CoV‐2 with vector‐borne diseases (VBD), such as malaria and dengue in resource‐limited settings represents an additional challenge to the healthcare systems. Herein, we assessed the coinfection rate between SARS‐CoV‐2 and VBD to highlight the need to carry out an accurate diagnosis and promote timely measures for these infections in Luanda, the capital city of Angola. This was a cross‐sectional study conducted with 105 subjects tested for the SARS‐CoV‐2 and VBD with a rapid detection test in April 2021. The participants tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 (3.80%), malaria (13.3%), and dengue (27.6%). Low odds related to testing positivity to SARS‐CoV‐2 or VBD were observed in participants above or equal to 40 years (odds ratio [OR]: 0.60, p = 0.536), while higher odds were observed in male (OR: 1.44, p = 0.392) and urbanized areas (OR: 3.78, p = 0.223). The overall co‐infection rate between SARS‐CoV‐2 and VBD was 11.4%. Our findings showed a coinfection between SARS‐CoV‐2 with malaria and dengue, which could indicate the need to integrate the screening for VBD in the SARS‐CoV‐2 testing algorithm and the adjustment of treatment protocols. Further studies are warranted to better elucidate the relationship between COVID‐19 and VBD in Angola.