Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the Republic of Congo in mid-2021

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in the general population in the Republic of Congo. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, conducted from June to July 2021, participants were recruited from the general population in three districts in the Republic of Congo. Eligible participants were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a rapid diagnostic assay. RESULTS: Overall, 31.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 29.5–34.0] of the 1669 participants tested positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Higher prevalence was observed in the rural region (37.3%, 95% CI 31.0–44.1%) than the urban region (30.9%, 95% CI 28.5–33.3); however, the difference was not significant. The risk of testing positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies increased significantly with age, ranging from 22.5% (95% CI 18.1–27.5) in 15–24 year olds to 47.9% (95% CI 39.3–56.5) in 55–64 year olds. CONCLUSIONS: The antibody levels observed in this survey correlate with a moderate rate of virus circulation, which correlates with the low number of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 in the Republic of Congo.