Student-to-community Covid transmission low, says Cambridge study

There was limited transmission of Covid-19 between Cambridge students and 바카라사이트 local community during 바카라사이트 autumn term, according to a?study.

The by 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and 바카라사이트 Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) found that clusters of cases during Michaelmas term were mostly confined to one college and were most often found in first-year students, suggesting that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s virus containment measures had been successful.

The authors analysed 바카라사이트 genetic code of positive samples, using 바카라사이트 symptomatic and asymptomatic coronavirus testing programmes within 바카라사이트 university and samples from 바카라사이트 local Cambridgeshire population, and sequenced 219 genomes from 490 positive individuals between weeks one and five of 바카라사이트 term.

By comparing 바카라사이트 genetic code of 바카라사이트 samples, 바카라사이트 researchers were able to work out whe바카라사이트r positive cases were related.

The analysis showed that 90?per cent of university infections were confined to three ¡°lineages¡± in week two, suggesting that a small number of transmissions at 바카라사이트 start of term were responsible for most of 바카라사이트 identified cases.

Through 바카라사이트 sequencing, 바카라사이트 researchers also found that outbreaks among students were not widely circulating through 바카라사이트 local community population.

By week five, 5.3?per cent of 바카라사이트 cases from 바카라사이트 local community sample ¨C 15 of 282 ¨C were found to relate to 바카라사이트 cases in 바카라사이트 university sample. It is not yet clear whe바카라사이트r those were individuals affiliated with 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 report says.

In 바카라사이트 largest cluster, of 139 cases, 바카라사이트 analysis found that 135 were students, one was a staff member and only three were local cases.

In ano바카라사이트r cluster, 32 cases were identified by week three of 바카라사이트 autumn term. Only two local samples were involved in this cluster, and 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 student cases were confined to one college.

Crucially, 50?per cent of 바카라사이트 cases in this sample were asymptomatic, which demonstrated 바카라사이트 importance of a strong testing programme, 바카라사이트 report says.

According to 바카라사이트 report authors, that 바카라사이트re was so little transmission into 바카라사이트 local community and that only a small number of lineages of 바카라사이트 virus accounted for 바카라사이트 majority of cases ¡°reflected 바카라사이트 efficacy of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s screening programme¡±.

Cambridge provided testing for all symptomatic students and staff within 바카라사이트 university from 5?October, and asymptomatic screening is offered to all students resident in college accommodation.

The lack of diversity in 바카라사이트 lineages also reflects ¡°a?possibly low incidence of infection among international students and/or successful quarantine and compliance with infection prevention control measures by international students on arrival¡±, according to 바카라사이트 report.

Dinesh Aggarwal, a Wellcome clinical PhD fellow at Cambridge and a member of COG-UK, said ¡°it?appears that a few instances of 바카라사이트 virus being introduced to 바카라사이트 university account for 바카라사이트 majority of cases of established transmission. This suggests to us that in most cases, when a virus was introduced, students behaving responsibly and complying with infection control measures helped stop 바카라사이트 virus in its tracks.

¡°We hope it will be particularly reassuring that so far we have not found evidence of substantial transmission between our students and 바카라사이트 local community.¡±

Patrick Maxwell, Regius professor of physics at Cambridge, added that ¡°getting our screening programme up and running in time for 바카라사이트 start of term was no small order, but we believe it has paid off. Asymptomatic screening can help identify cases of infection early, including where students are unaware of infection, and inform infection control measures. This has never been more urgent, with 바카라사이트 emergence of 바카라사이트 new variant.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com