NCDC, NIMR launch COVID-19 household Seroprevalence surveys

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Nigeria Institute for Medical Research   (NIMR) and their partners are conducting household surveys in four states in Nigeria to better understand the  burden  of  COVID-19  infection  in  Nigeria.  These  seroprevalence surveys,  which  will  be  carried  out  in  Gombe,  Enugu,  Nasarawa  and  Lagos  States  will provide the best evidence yet, on the extent of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria.

Seroprevalence surveys are used to identify the occurrence of disease in a populationby estimating  the  presence  of  antibodies  in  individuals  who  have  had  the  disease.  This  is done  by  testing  blood  samples  in  randomly  selected  households  in  selected  states.  For Nigeria’s COVID-19  seroprevalence  survey,  household  members  will  answer  a  brief questionnaire,  be  tested  for  the  presence  of  COVID-19  antibodies,  as  well  as  for  acute COVID-19,  if  they  consent.  In  addition  to  this,  study  participants  will  also  have  a  rapid malaria test and receive treatment if the test is positive. This is the first set of household surveys to be conducted for COVID-19 in Nigeria and as part  of  ongoing  public  health  research  activities.

The  surveys  will  increase  the  current understanding  of  COVID-19  transmission  patterns,  the  burden  of  infection  in  the population, and the age groups most affected. This information will help inform COVID-19  response  decisions  by  the  Government  of  Nigeria  and  partners  as  part  of  measures towards ending the pandemic. The surveys will also estimate the proportion of people who have COVID-19 but are not showing  any  symptoms  i.e.  asymptomatic.  Through  this,  the  country  can  identify  risk factors  for  infection  and  measure  the  transmission  of  COVID-19  within  households.  By administering rapid malaria tests, the surveys will also assess malaria infections and their possible relationship to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The results from these surveys will inform the response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria.  The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) and the University College London (supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) are supporting NCDC and NIMR in implementing these surveys. The US CDC’s implementing partner, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), will also support the State Ministries of Health with  implementation. The surveys will be conducted between September and November, and preliminary results are expected to be released by December 2020.