Abstract
Awareness of infection with SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for the effectiveness of COVID-19 control measures. Here, we investigate awareness of infection and symptoms in relation to antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in healthy plasma donors. We asked individuals donating plasma across the Netherlands between May 11th and 18th 2020 to report COVID-19-related symptoms, and we tested for antibodies indicative of a past infection with SARS-CoV-2. Among 3,676 with antibodies, and from questionnaire data, 239 (6.5%) are positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Of those, 48% suspect no COVID-19, despite the majority reporting symptoms; 11% of seropositive individuals report no symptoms and 27% very mild symptoms at any time during the first peak of the epidemic. Anosmia/ageusia and fever are most strongly associated with seropositivity. Almost half of seropositive individuals do not suspect SARS-CoV-2 infection. Improved recognition of COVID-19 symptoms, in particular, anosmia/ageusia and fever, is needed to reduce widespread SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 100222 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Cell Reports Medicine |
Volume | 2 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 1 Mar 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 16 Mar 2021 |
Keywords
- COVID-19
- SARS-CoV-2
- anosmia
- antibodies
- infection awareness
- plasma donation
- symptoms