Journal of travel medicine
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In June 2021, when COVID-19 incidence in Australia was low, a COVID-19 (Delta variant) cluster occurred on an 81-minute domestic flight, with an aircrew member as the likely source. Outbreak investigation demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 may be transmitted during short-haul flights and that mask use protected against infection.
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We analysed the effectiveness of various non-pharmaceutical interventions in containing the 2022 Omicron outbreak in China. The results show that the Rapid Antigen Test contributed to containing the outbreak, reducing the reproduction number by 0.788 (95% CI:−0.306, 1.880) in studied cities.
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The future of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic hinges on virus evolution and duration of immune protection of natural infection against reinfection. We investigated the duration of protection afforded by natural infection, the effect of viral immune evasion on duration of protection and protection against severe reinfection, in Qatar, between 28 February 2020 and 5 June 2022. ⋯ Protection of natural infection against reinfection wanes and may diminish within a few years. Viral immune evasion accelerates this waning. Protection against severe reinfection remains very strong, with no evidence for waning, irrespective of variant, for over 14 months after primary infection.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health services and governments in Canada and around the world. Our research aims to evaluate the effect of domestic and international air travel patterns on the COVID-19 pandemic in Canadian provinces and territories. ⋯ Historical travel volumes, combined with data on an emerging infection, are useful to understand the behaviour of an infectious agent in regions of Canada with different connectivity and population size. Historical travel information is important for public health planning and pandemic resource allocation.
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Waning protection against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants by pre-existing antibodies elicited because of current vaccination or natural infection is a global concern. Whether this is due to the waning of immunity to SARS-COV-2 remains unclear. ⋯ Whereas double-dose mRNA vaccination boosted antibody levels, vaccinated individuals' 'boost' was relatively short-lived.