Epidemiological characterization of COVID-19 in displaced populations of South Sudan.

South Sudan is facing a protracted humanitarian crisis with increasing population vulnerability. The study aimed to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in displaced populations in South Sudan. the study involved the internally displaced populations (IDP) in Bentiu IDP camp, South Sudan. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving individuals that met the COVID-19 probable and confirmed case definitions from May 2020 to November 2021. Case data were managed using Microsoft Excel databases. the initial COVID-19 case in Bentiu IDP camp was reported on 2 May 2020. The overall cumulative attack rate (cases per million) was 3,230 for Bentiu IDP and 1,038 at the national level. The COVID-19 Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) among the IDPs was 19.08% among confirmed and 1.06% at the national level. There was one wave of COVID-19 transmission in the IDPs that coincided with the second COVID-19 wave in South Sudan for the period May 2020 to November 2021. Adult males aged 20-49 years were the most affected and constituted 47.1% of COVID-19 cases. Most severe cases were reported among adults 60-69 years (53%) and ≥ 70 years (80%). The risk of COVID-19 death (deaths per 10,000) increased with age and was highest in patients aged ≥ 60 years at 64.1. The commonest underlying illnesses among COVID-19 deaths was HIV-related illness, heart disease, and tuberculosis. COVID-19 constitutes a significant impact on internally displaced populations of South Sudan. The COVID-19 response in displaced populations and the high-risk groups therein should be optimized. ©Joseph Francis Wamala et al.

Citation

Joseph Francis Wamala, Fredrick Loro, Simon John Deng, Kibebu Kinfu Berta, Argata Guracha Guyo, Allan Mpairwe, Fabian Ndenzako, John Pasquale Rumunu. Epidemiological characterization of COVID-19 in displaced populations of South Sudan. The Pan African medical journal. 2022;42(Suppl 1):4

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PMID: 36158931

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