SARS-CoV-2 in Rural Latin America. A Population-based Study in Coastal Ecuador
Óscar H. Del Brutto, Aldo F. Costa, Robertino M. Mera, Bettsy Y. Recalde, Javier A. Bustos, Héctor H. Garcı́a
Abstract
Antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were detected in 303/673 rural Ecuadorian adults (45%), 77% of whom had compatible clinical manifestations. Seropositivity was associated with the use of open latrines. Our findings support the fears of mass spread of SARS-CoV-2 in rural Latin America and cannot exclude a contributing role for fecal-oral transmission.
Topics & Concepts
Latin AmericansSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Rural populationTransmission (telecommunications)Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Environmental healthLatrinePopulationMedicineFecesGeography2019-20 coronavirus outbreakDemographySocioeconomicsVirologySanitationOutbreakInternal medicineBiologyPathologyPolitical scienceEcologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)LawElectrical engineeringSociologyDiseaseEngineeringCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesCOVID-19 diagnosis using AISARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research