Factors associated with the formation of SARS-CoV-2 case-clusters in Danish schools: a nationwide register-based observational study
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Factors associated with the formation of SARS-CoV-2 case-clusters in Danish schools : a nationwide register-based observational study. / Funk, Tjede; Espenhain, Laura; Moller, Frederik Trier; Ethelberg, Steen.
In: Epidemiology and Infection, Vol. 151, e168, 2023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors associated with the formation of SARS-CoV-2 case-clusters in Danish schools
T2 - a nationwide register-based observational study
AU - Funk, Tjede
AU - Espenhain, Laura
AU - Moller, Frederik Trier
AU - Ethelberg, Steen
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), 2023.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - A register-based retrospective observational study was conducted to describe SARS-CoV-2 cases and case-clusters in schoolchildren of Danish primary and lower secondary schools and identify which factors were associated with the occurrence of case-clusters in schools. The study period was the autumn school semester 2021. Clusters were defined as three or more cases in a school-class level within 14 days. Descriptive analysis was carried out and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which factors were associated with case introductions (i.e., primary case) being linked to a cluster. More cases and clusters were identified in lower than in higher class levels. Out of 21,497 cases introduced into a school, 41.6% started a cluster. A higher assumed immunity level in a class level was significantly reducing the odds of a case introduction being linked to a cluster (e.g., assumed immunity of ≥80% vs <20%: OR: 0.28; 95%CI: 0.17-0.44). A previous infection (in the primary case) had a protective effect (OR: 0.58; 95%CI: 0.33-0.99). This study suggests that most cases appearing in schools did not induce clusters, but that once cluster occur sizes can be large. It further indicates that vaccination of children markedly reduces the risk of secondary infections.
AB - A register-based retrospective observational study was conducted to describe SARS-CoV-2 cases and case-clusters in schoolchildren of Danish primary and lower secondary schools and identify which factors were associated with the occurrence of case-clusters in schools. The study period was the autumn school semester 2021. Clusters were defined as three or more cases in a school-class level within 14 days. Descriptive analysis was carried out and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which factors were associated with case introductions (i.e., primary case) being linked to a cluster. More cases and clusters were identified in lower than in higher class levels. Out of 21,497 cases introduced into a school, 41.6% started a cluster. A higher assumed immunity level in a class level was significantly reducing the odds of a case introduction being linked to a cluster (e.g., assumed immunity of ≥80% vs <20%: OR: 0.28; 95%CI: 0.17-0.44). A previous infection (in the primary case) had a protective effect (OR: 0.58; 95%CI: 0.33-0.99). This study suggests that most cases appearing in schools did not induce clusters, but that once cluster occur sizes can be large. It further indicates that vaccination of children markedly reduces the risk of secondary infections.
KW - cases
KW - Denmark
KW - outbreaks
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - schools
U2 - 10.1017/S0950268823001188
DO - 10.1017/S0950268823001188
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37466091
AN - SCOPUS:85166008853
VL - 151
JO - Epidemiology and Infection
JF - Epidemiology and Infection
SN - 0950-2688
M1 - e168
ER -
ID: 371551334