Real time surveillance of COVID-19 space and time clusters during the summer 2020 in Spain.
COVID-19
Clusters
Spain
Spatial analysis
Surveillance
Journal
BMC public health
ISSN: 1471-2458
Titre abrégé: BMC Public Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100968562
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
21 05 2021
21 05 2021
Historique:
received:
26
01
2021
accepted:
28
04
2021
entrez:
21
5
2021
pubmed:
22
5
2021
medline:
26
5
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
On June 21st de-escalation measures and state-of-alarm ended in Spain after the COVID-19 first wave. New surveillance and control strategy was set up to detect emerging outbreaks. To detect and describe the evolution of COVID-19 clusters and cases during the 2020 summer in Spain. A near-real time surveillance system to detect active clusters of COVID-19 was developed based on Kulldorf's prospective space-time scan statistic (STSS) to detect daily emerging active clusters. Analyses were performed daily during the summer 2020 (June 21st - August 31st) in Spain, showing an increase of active clusters and municipalities affected. Spread happened in the study period from a few, low-cases, regional-located clusters in June to a nationwide distribution of bigger clusters encompassing a higher average number of municipalities and total cases by end-August. STSS-based surveillance of COVID-19 can be of utility in a low-incidence scenario to help tackle emerging outbreaks that could potentially drive a widespread transmission. If that happens, spatial trends and disease distribution can be followed with this method. Finally, cluster aggregation in space and time, as observed in our results, could suggest the occurrence of community transmission.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
On June 21st de-escalation measures and state-of-alarm ended in Spain after the COVID-19 first wave. New surveillance and control strategy was set up to detect emerging outbreaks.
AIM
To detect and describe the evolution of COVID-19 clusters and cases during the 2020 summer in Spain.
METHODS
A near-real time surveillance system to detect active clusters of COVID-19 was developed based on Kulldorf's prospective space-time scan statistic (STSS) to detect daily emerging active clusters.
RESULTS
Analyses were performed daily during the summer 2020 (June 21st - August 31st) in Spain, showing an increase of active clusters and municipalities affected. Spread happened in the study period from a few, low-cases, regional-located clusters in June to a nationwide distribution of bigger clusters encompassing a higher average number of municipalities and total cases by end-August.
CONCLUSION
STSS-based surveillance of COVID-19 can be of utility in a low-incidence scenario to help tackle emerging outbreaks that could potentially drive a widespread transmission. If that happens, spatial trends and disease distribution can be followed with this method. Finally, cluster aggregation in space and time, as observed in our results, could suggest the occurrence of community transmission.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34016076
doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10961-z
pii: 10.1186/s12889-021-10961-z
pmc: PMC8137313
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
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