Self-sampling kit delivered to travelers for COVID-19 testing 4 days after arrival in French Polynesia, July 2020–February 2021

Cao-Lormeau, Van-Mai; Teiti, Iotefa; Teissier, Anita; Richard, Vaea; Aubry, Maïté

doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102098

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…To prevent new viral introductions, travelers entering French Polynesia had the obligation to present a negative result in a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test performed within the 3 days before departure. In addition, an innovative strategy consisting of using self-collected and pooled oral and nasal samples for RT-PCR-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in travelers was implemented [ 14 , 15 ]. However, it could not prevent the re-introduction of SARS-CoV-2 in French Polynesia, and an outbreak started in August 2020 [ 12 ].…”

Section: Covid-19 Control and Surveillance Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to increase testing capacity, biological samples from several travelers should be pooled before molecular diagnostics, as previously described for the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 [ 14 , 15 ]. Adjustments to the pooling protocol (i.e., selection of the number and volume of individual samples to pool) might be required depending on the type of sample used (venous blood, capillary blood, saliva, or other).…”

Section: Strategies To Prevent the Emergence Of Mosquito-borne And Ot...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perspective on the Use of Innovative Surveillance Strategies Implemented for COVID-19 to Prevent Mosquito-Borne Disease Emergence in French Polynesia

Aubry

Cao-Lormeau

2022

Viruses

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In French Polynesia, following the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in March 2020, several control measures were implemented to prevent virus spread, including a population lockdown and the interruption of international air traffic. SARS-CoV-2 local transmission rapidly stopped, and circulation of dengue virus serotypes 1 and 2, the only arboviruses being detected at that time, decreased. After the borders re-opened, a surveillance strategy consisting of the testing by SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR of travelers entering French Polynesia, and isolating those with ongoing infection, was implemented. This strategy proved efficient to limit the introduction of SARS-CoV-2, and should be considered to prevent the importation of other pathogens, including mosquito-borne viruses, in geographically isolated areas such as French Polynesia.

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Section: Covid-19 Control and Surveillance Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Strategies To Prevent the Emergence Of Mosquito-borne And Ot...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspective on the Use of Innovative Surveillance Strategies Implemented for COVID-19 to Prevent Mosquito-Borne Disease Emergence in French Polynesia

Aubry

Cao-Lormeau

2022

Viruses

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“…The updated search identified nine modelling studies (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15) and eight observational studies (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23).…”

Section: Study Designsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Five observational studies assessing the impact of microbiological detection only on this outcome (17,19,(21)(22)(23) reported detecting from 0.01% to 1.5% of cases amongst all travellers. Self-collection of samples was conducted at 4 days post-arrival (17).…”

Section: A Proportion Of Cases Detectedmentioning

confidence: 99%

International Travel-Related Control Measures to contain The Covid-19 Pandemic: An update to a Cochrane Rapid Review

Hohlfeld¹,

Abdullahi

Abou‐Setta

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: COVID-19 has proven to be more difficult to manage for many reasons including its high infectivity rate. One of the potential ways to limit its spread is by controlling free international travel. The objective of this systematic review is to identify, critically-appraise and summarize evidence on international travel-related control measures. Methods: This review is based on the Cochrane review: International travel-related control measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and followed the same methods. In brief, we searched for clinical and modelling studies in general health and COVID-19-specific bibliographic databases. The primary outcome categories were (i) cases avoided, (ii) a shift in epidemic development and, (iii) cases detected. Secondary outcomes were other infectious disease transmission outcomes, healthcare utilisation, resource requirements and adverse effects if identified in studies assessing at least one primary outcome. Results: We assessed 66 full-text articles that met with our inclusion criteria. Seventeen new studies (modelling = 9, observational = 8) were identified in the updated search. Most studies were of critical to moderate risk of bias. The added studies did not change the main conclusions of the Cochrane review nor the quality of the evidence (very low to low certainty). However, it did add to the evidence base for most outcomes. Conclusions: Weak evidence supports the use of international travel-related control measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 via air travel. Real-world studies are required to support these conclusions.

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“…We describe here the use of self-collected and pooled samples as resources-saving strategies for RT-PCR-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in travelers entering French Polynesia. From July 15 th , 2020, to February 9 th , 2021, all travelers had to comply with a testing protocol (COV-CHECK PORINETIA) which combined 2 consecutive RT-PCR tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 [ 14 ]. The first one was performed within 3 days before departure from an individual oro- and/or naso-pharyngeal sample collected by a health worker.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-collection and pooling of samples as resources-saving strategies for RT-PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, the example of travelers in French Polynesia

et al. 2021

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In French Polynesia, the first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected on March 10th, 2020, in a resident returning from France. Between March 28th and July 14th, international air traffic was interrupted and local transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was brought under control, with only 62 cases recorded. The main challenge for reopening the air border without requiring travelers to quarantine on arrival was to limit the risk of re-introducing SARS-CoV-2. Specific measures were implemented, including the obligation for all travelers to have a negative RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 carried out within 3 days before departure, and to perform another RT-PCR testing 4 days after arrival. Because of limitation in available medical staff, travelers were provided a kit allowing self-collection of oral and nasal swabs. In addition to increase our testing capacity, self-collected samples from up to 10 travelers were pooled before RNA extraction and RT-PCR testing. When a pool tested positive, RNA extraction and RT-PCR were performed on each individual sample. We report here the results of COVID-19 surveillance (COV-CHECK PORINETIA) conducted between July 15th, 2020, and February 15th, 2021, in travelers using self-collection and pooling approaches. We tested 5,982 pools comprising 59,490 individual samples, and detected 273 (0.46%) travelers positive for SARS-CoV-2. A mean difference of 1.17 Ct (CI 95% 0.93–1.41) was found between positive individual samples and pools (N = 50), probably related to the volume of samples used for RNA extraction (200 μL versus 50 μL, respectively). Retrospective testing of positive samples self-collected from October 20th, 2020, using variants-specific amplification kit and spike gene sequencing, found at least 6 residents infected by the Alpha variant. Self-collection and pooling approaches allowed large-scale screening for SARS-CoV-2 using less human, material and financial resources. Moreover, this strategy allowed detecting the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in French Polynesia.

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Self-sampling kit delivered to travelers for COVID-19 testing 4 days after arrival in French Polynesia, July 2020–February 2021

Cited by 7 publications

References 1 publication

Perspective on the Use of Innovative Surveillance Strategies Implemented for COVID-19 to Prevent Mosquito-Borne Disease Emergence in French Polynesia

Perspective on the Use of Innovative Surveillance Strategies Implemented for COVID-19 to Prevent Mosquito-Borne Disease Emergence in French Polynesia

International Travel-Related Control Measures to contain The Covid-19 Pandemic: An update to a Cochrane Rapid Review

Self-collection and pooling of samples as resources-saving strategies for RT-PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, the example of travelers in French Polynesia

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