Low transmission of SARS-CoV-2 derived from children in family clusters: An observational study of family households in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Spain

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277754
• Publication Date: 2022-11-17T18:45:21Z
• Authors: Maria Mele-Casas; Cristian Launes; Mariona F. de Sev...; Maria Hernandez-G...; Gemma Pons-Tomas; Quique Bassat; Victoria Fumado; Claudia Fortuny; Aleix Garcia-Miquel; Elisenda Bonet-Carne; Clara Prats; Sara Ajanovic; Marta Cubells; Joana Claverol; Daniel Penela-San...; Cristina Jou; Sara Arias; Nuria Balanza; Barbara Baro; Pere Millat-Martinez; Sergio Alonso; Enric Alvarez-Lac...; Marti Catala; Daniel Cuadras; Carmen Muñoz-Almagro; Eduard Gratacos; Iolanda Jordan; Juan Jose Garcia-...
• Keywords: Contact tracing; Longitudinal Study

Background Family clusters offer a good opportunity to study viral transmission in stable setting. We aimed analyze the specific role of children SARS-CoV-2 within households. Methods A prospective, longitudinal, observational study, including with documented acute infection attending 22 summer-schools Barcelona, Spain, was performed. Moreover, other patients and families coming from school-like environments that voluntarily accessed were also studied. longitudinal follow-up (5 weeks) family conducted determine whether considered be primary cases able transmit virus members. The household reproduction number (Re*) secondary attack rate (SAR) calculated. Results 1905 summer schools screened for (1.15%) tested positive. 32 additional voluntarily. Of these, 37 their 26 households studied completely. In half (13/26), case child members observed 3/13, SAR 14.2% Re* 0.46. Conversely, adult 72.2% kids gave rise contact tracing 61.5% without them, estimated 2.6. 4/13 paediatric (30.0%), nasopharyngeal PCR persistently positive > 1 week after diagnosis, 3/4 these infected another member (p<0.01). Conclusions Children may not main drivers population. prolonged could associated higher transmissibility.