Analysis of a Large Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Alpha) Outbreak in a Catalan Prison Using Conventional and Genomic Epidemiology
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Enforcing strict protocols that prevent transmission of airborne infections in prisons is challenging. We examine a large severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 outbreak in a Catalan penitentiary center in February-April 2021, prior to vaccination deployment. The aim was to describe the evolution of the outbreak using classical and genomic epidemiology and the containment strategy applied. The outbreak was initially detected in 1 module but spread to 4, infecting 7 staff members and 140 incarcerated individuals, 6 of whom were hospitalized (4.4%). Genomic analysis confirmed a single origin (B.1.1.7). Contact tracing identified transmission vectors between modules and prevented further viral spread. In future similar scenarios, the control strategy described here may help limit transmission of airborne infections in correctional settings.
Authors: Antoni E Bordoy, Xavier Vallès, Juan Fernández-Náger, Montserrat Sánchez-Roig, Juan Fernández-Recio, Verónica Saludes, Marc Noguera-Julian, Ignacio Blanco, Elisa Martró, for the Quatre Camins COVID-19 Study Group, E P Balcázar, M R Díaz, R Encarnación, M Fuentes, C Gallego, A M Pale, P Puig, E A Moreno, A Puertolas, G Chouldry, I Sala, A G Jiménez, B Armenteros, J Alvo, S Gómez, M Guillament, D Martínez, A Martin, M A Moruno, N Parra, A Puig, F J Rodríguez, M Sánchez, A C Varoucha, M Moreno, J Martínez, S Huguet, A Sánchez, T Alonso, M Garcia, E Prat, A Aranda, M J Arguelles, J Azqueta, E Cruz, R M Egido, R Galvany, B Garcia, M González, V González, J A Infante, C Latorre, P Márquez, I Muñoz, M Porras, M Ramos, M Escamilla, J Santalucía, M Riquelme, L Rastrollo, M Pedrerol, V Caraballo, J Fontan, M Verú, V Conill, L Soler, D Panisello Yagüe, C Casañ, G Clarà, M Giménez, M Guerrero-Murillo, P J Cardona, Andrés Marco
Institutions: Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de La Rioja, Instituto de Ciencias de la Vid y del Vino, Gobierno de La Rioja, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, IrsiCaixa, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4393946317