Retrospective overview of a COVID-19 outbreak in Mauritania

Abstract

A COVID-19 outbreak is currently ongoing in Mauritania. Until July 1, 2020, Mauritania health authorities reported 41,862 serological and RT-qPCR tests performed, of which 4,472 (10.7%) were positive for SARS-Cov-2. Males were significantly more affected (57.1%) than females (42.9%). Individuals of the age groups 15–34 (35.8%) and 35–54 (36.6%) years were the most affected. There were 129 (2.9%) deaths, 1,677 (37.5%) recoveries and 2,666 (59.6%) active cases of whom 2,261 (84.8%) were asymptomatic, 394 (14.7%) with mild symptoms and 11 (0.4%) severe cases. A large proportion of fatalities (72%; 85/118) occurred among adults aged ≥ 55 years. Of 4,472 positive cases, 4,241 (94.8%) were infected through contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, 133 (3.0%) had no contact with confirmed COVID-19 case, and 98 (2.2%) were imported. As a riposte against COVID-19, the Mauritanian authorities announced a set of preventive measures, including closure of land and air borders, nocturne curfew, closure of markets, schools, and universities, and restriction of movement between cities. Control measures include the systematic testing of symptomatic patients, isolation and management of active cases, contact tracing, and quarantine of people who have been in contact with a COVID-19-positive individual. We discuss the efforts of the Mauritanian government to combat this potentially life-threatening pneumonia.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 during the first wave in Senegal

“…The necessity of quarantine at the oTCE for COVID19 patients allowed prolonged follow-up at the oTCE, and that there were no new symptoms con rming the diagnosis of asymptomatic patients. Our results appeared similar to recent data focusing on the Mauritanian outbreak wherein 84% of the patients were asymptomatic [10]; however, the distinction between the status of asymptomatic or presymptomatic was not clearly de ned in this study. This high prevalence of asymptomatic cases and low rate of fatality might be related to the younger age of the African population [6].…”

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients in Sfax, Tunisia

“…In-hospital mortality is high, in particular for patients with acute respiratory distress requiring ICU admission and mechanical ventilation [4][5][6][7][8]. In fact, the mortality rate reported in severe cases ranges from 50% to 100% [4][5][6][7][8]. However, to the best of our knowledge, apart from some reported cases [9,10], there have been no studies from Tunisia concerning severe cases of patients with COVID-19 requiring ICU admission.…”

“…In Africa, there is little information available about the clinical characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19-infected patients [4][5][6][7][8]. Global mortality rates range from 4% to 5.6% [4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…In Africa, there is little information available about the clinical characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19-infected patients [4][5][6][7][8]. Global mortality rates range from 4% to 5.6% [4][5][6][7][8]. In-hospital mortality is high, in particular for patients with acute respiratory distress requiring ICU admission and mechanical ventilation [4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…Global mortality rates range from 4% to 5.6% [4][5][6][7][8]. In-hospital mortality is high, in particular for patients with acute respiratory distress requiring ICU admission and mechanical ventilation [4][5][6][7][8]. In fact, the mortality rate reported in severe cases ranges from 50% to 100% [4][5][6][7][8].…”