Objective
To assess SARS-COV-2 seroprevalence in Oman and longitudinal changes in antibody levels over time within the first 11 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
This nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted as a four-cycle serosurvey using a multistage stratified sampling method from July–November 2020. A questionnaire was used and included demographics, history of acute respiratory infection and list of symptoms, COVID-19 contact, previous diagnosis or admission, travel history, and risk factors.
Results
In total, 17,457 participants were surveyed. Thirty percent were female, and 66.3% Omani. There was significant increase in seroprevalence throughout the study cycles, starting from [5.5 (4.8–6.2)] for the first cycle and ending with [22 (19.6–24.6)] for the forth cycle. There was no difference in seroprevalence between genders, but significant differences between age groups. There was a transition of seroprevalence from being higher in non-Omanis in cycle one, [9.1 (7.6–10.9)] to Omanis [3.2 (2.6–3.9)] to being higher in Omanis [24.3 (21.0–27.9)] to non-Omanis [16.8 (14.9–18.9)] in cycle four. There was remarkable variation in seroprevalence of COVID-19 according to governorate. Close contacts of people with COVID-19 had a 96% higher risk of having the disease, (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.64–2.34); laborers have 58% higher risk of infection compared to office workers (AOR=1.58, 95% CI; 1.04–2.35).
Conclusion
The study showed a wide variation of SARS-CoV-2 dissemination between governorates in Oman, with higher seroprevalence estimates in migrants in the first two cycles. Prevalence estimates remain low and are insufficient to provide herd immunity.
The prevalence of pre-hypertension was high among the Omani adult population. The determinants of pre-hypertension in this research age, body mass index, fasting blood glucose and total blood cholesterol. A cost-effectiveness study about the management of pre-hypertension within primary healthcare is significant in the future health system service strategies.
A two-day-old male neonate was inadvertently immunized with 20-times the recommended dose of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine (1.0 ml instead of 0.05 ml). Examination of the neonate after one day revealed no signs of local reaction at the site of injection or systemic manifestation. However, nine days later, he developed a swelling (4 × 3 cm) at the site of injection without any enlargement of the lymph node, pallor, or jaundice. A needle aspiration of the swelling was done and sent for culture. The culture showed the BCG strain only. The infant was not started on antituberculosis medication, due to the absence of symptoms suggestive of systemic disease. There were no other complications up to the age of 18 months. The case highlights the importance of administering the correct dose and using the appropriate technique of the BCG vaccine, and explains the management options to prevent local and systematic complications that may occur due to overdose.
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