Borud Einar Kristian, Nakstad Espen Rostrup, Håberg Siri Eldevik, Lind Andreas, Fadum Elin Anita, Taxt Arne Michael, Steens Anneke, Gjein Gaute Eriksen, Sunde Magne Wiken, Iversen Petter, Svanevik Marius, Ahmad Babar Mushtaq, Waldow Thomas, Norheim Arne Johan
Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Medical Services Sessvollmoen Norway.
Department of Community Medicine University of Tromsø-The Arctic University of Norway Tromsø Norway.
Health Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 15;4(1):e233. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.233. eCollection 2021 Mar.
Accurate estimates of SARS-CoV-2 infection in different population groups are important for the health authorities. In Norway, public infection control measures have successfully curbed the pandemic. However, military training and service are incompatible with these measures; therefore extended infection control measures were implemented in the Norwegian Armed Forces. We aimed to describe these measures, discuss their value, and investigate the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) prevalence and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2, as well as changes in antibody titer levels over the 6-week military training period in a young, asymptomatic population of conscripts.
In April 2020, 1170 healthy conscripts (median age 20 years) enrolled in military training. Extended infection control measures included a pre-enrollment telephone interview, self-imposed quarantine, questionnaires, and serial SARS-CoV-2 testing. At enrollment, questionnaires were used to collect information on symptoms, and SARS-CoV-2 rapid antibody testing was conducted. Serial SARS-CoV-2 PCR and serology testing were used to estimate the prevalence of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 and monitor titer levels at enrollment, and 3 and 6 weeks thereafter.
At enrollment, only 0.2% of conscripts were SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive, and seroprevalence was 0.6%. Serological titer levels increased nearly 5-fold over the 6-week observation period. Eighteen conscripts reported mild respiratory symptoms during the 2 weeks prior to enrollment (all were PCR-negative; one was serology-positive), whereas 17 conscripts reported respiratory symptoms and nine had fever at enrollment (all were PCR- and serology-negative).
The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was less than 1% in our sample of healthy Norwegian conscripts. Testing of asymptomatic conscripts seems of no value in times of low COVID-19 prevalence. SARS-CoV-2 antibody titer levels increased substantially over time in conscripts with mild symptoms.
准确估计不同人群中的新型冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）感染情况对卫生当局而言至关重要。在挪威，公共感染控制措施已成功遏制了疫情大流行。然而，军事训练和服役与这些措施不兼容；因此，挪威武装部队实施了强化感染控制措施。我们旨在描述这些措施，讨论其价值，并调查年轻无症状应征入伍人群在为期6周的军事训练期间SARS-CoV-2的聚合酶链反应（PCR）患病率和血清阳性率，以及抗体滴度水平的变化。
2020年4月，1170名健康应征入伍者（中位年龄20岁）参加军事训练。强化感染控制措施包括入伍前电话访谈、自我隔离、问卷调查和系列SARS-CoV-2检测。入伍时，通过问卷调查收集症状信息，并进行SARS-CoV-2快速抗体检测。采用系列SARS-CoV-2 PCR和血清学检测来估计确诊的SARS-CoV-2患病率，并在入伍时、此后3周和6周监测滴度水平。
入伍时，只有0.2%的应征入伍者SARS-CoV-2 PCR检测呈阳性，血清阳性率为0.
