Absence of climatic factors influence on the prevalence of COVID-19 in Benin: A spatiotemporal analysis
Paper Details
Absence of climatic factors influence on the prevalence of COVID-19 in Benin: A spatiotemporal analysis
Abstract
Epidemiological surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains crucial at the waning stage of the pandemic. It helps monitor the persistence of infection within the community and strengthens preparedness for future health crises. The aim of this study was to track the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 infection in southern Benin in 2022, while assessing the impact of climatic factors on disease transmission and severity. SARS-CoV-2 screening was performed using RT-qPCR on nasopharyngeal swabs collected from patients presenting at health centers in Cotonou, Sakété, and Cômè between January and December 2022. Samples that tested positive were sequenced using nanopore sequencing technology. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 8.01% among 4,382 participants. Three distinct variants were identified: Alpha (1%), Eta (8%), and Omicron (53%), along with unclassified variants (38%). No statistically significant association was found between infection status and demographic variables such as age or sex. Furthermore, infection dynamics showed no marked seasonality, suggesting transmission independent of climatic variations. This study highlights the complexity of viral spread in this region and underscores the importance of sustained epidemiological vigilance and preventive measures. These efforts remain essential to control viral transmission, particularly in the presence of circulating variants such as Omicron.
Bashir MF, Ma B, Bilal, Komal B, Bashir MA, Tan D, Bashir M. 2020. Correlation between climate indicators and COVID-19 pandemic in New York, USA. Science of the Total Environment. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138835
Conti P, Younes A. 2020. Coronavirus COV-19/SARS-CoV-2 affects women less than men: clinical response to viral infection. Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents. https://doi.org/10.23812/Editorial-Conti-3
Dalziel BD, Kissler S, Gog JR, Viboud C, Bjørnstad ON, Metcalf CJE, Grenfell BT. 2018. Urbanization and humidity shape the intensity of influenza epidemics in U.S. cities. Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aat6030
Elengoe A. 2020. COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia. Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives. Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2020.11.3.08
Guan W, Ni Z, Hu Y, Liang W, Ou C, He J, Liu L, Shan H, Lei C, Hui DSC, Du B, Li L, Zeng G, Yuen KY, Chen R, Tang C, Wang T, Chen P, Xiang J, Li S, Wang J, Liang Z, Peng Y, Wei L, Liu Y, Hu Y, Peng P, Wang J, Liu J, Chen Z, Li G, Zheng Z, Qiu S, Luo J, Ye C, Zhu S, Zhong N. 2020. Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in China. New England Journal of Medicine. Massachusetts Medical Society. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2002032
Hardy ÉJL, Flori P. 2021. Spécificités épidémiologiques de la COVID-19 en Afrique: Préoccupation de santé publique actuelle ou future ? Annales Pharmaceutiques Françaises. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharma.2020.10.011
Hirabara SM, Serdan TDA, Gorjao R, Masi LN, Pithon-Curi TC, Covas DT, Curi R, Durigon EL. 2022. SARS-CoV-2 variants: Differences and potential of immune evasion. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. Frontiers Media SA. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.781429
Islam N, Bukhari Q, Jameel Y, Shabnam S, Erzurumluoglu AM, Siddique MA, Massaro JM, D’Agostino RB. 2021. COVID-19 and climatic factors: A global analysis. Environmental Research. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110355
Jamil T, Alam I, Gojobori T, Duarte CM. 2020. No evidence for temperature-dependence of the COVID-19 epidemic. Frontiers in Public Health. Frontiers Media SA. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00436
Jayaweera M, Perera H, Gunawardana B, Manatunge J. 2020. Transmission of COVID-19 virus by droplets and aerosols: A critical review on the unresolved dichotomy. Environmental Research. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109819
McClymont H, Hu W. 2021. Weather variability and COVID-19 transmission: A review of recent research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020396
Okoroiwu HU, Ogar CO, Nja GME, Abunimye DA, Ejemot-Nwadiaro RI. 2021. COVID-19 in Nigeria: account of epidemiological events, response, management, preventions and lessons learned. Germs. Germs Press. https://doi.org/10.18683/germs.2021.1276
Plaçais L, Richier Q. 2020. COVID-19: Caractéristiques cliniques, biologiques et radiologiques chez l’adulte, la femme enceinte et l’enfant. Une mise au point au cœur de la pandémie. La Revue de Médecine Interne. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmed.2020.04.004
Raiah M, Terki K, Benrabah L, Hebali N, Besbes FZ, Guetarni N, Ammour F, Heroual N, Messid H, Fouatih ZA. 2022. Dynamic changes in the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 in Algeria. Batna Journal of Medical Sciences. https://doi.org/10.48087/BJMSoa.2022.S915
Rouzioux C. 2022. Les variants du SARS-CoV-2 face au dépistage et aux vaccins. Bulletin de l’Académie Nationale de Médecine. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.banm.2021.12.011
Sah R, Rais MA, Mohanty A, Chopra H, Chandran D, Bin Emran T, Dhama K. 2023. Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant and its subvariants and lineages may lead to another COVID-19 wave in the world. An overview of current evidence and counteracting strategies. International Journal of Surgery Open. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijso.2023.100625
Tahira AC, Verjovski-Almeida S, Ferreira ST. 2021. Dementia is an age-independent risk factor for severity and death in COVID-19 inpatients. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12352
Taiwo I, Fashola A. 2020. COVID-19 spread and average temperature distribution in Nigeria. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3585374
To T, Zhang K, Maguire B, Terebessy E, Fong I, Parikh S, Zhu J. 2021. Correlation of ambient temperature and COVID-19 incidence in Canada. Science of the Total Environment. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141484
Van Doorn HR, Yu H. 2020. Viral respiratory infections. In: Hunter’s Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Elsevier. pp. 284–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-55512-8.00033-8
World Health Organization. 2023. WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. World Health Organization. https://covid19.who.int/
Wu C, Chen X, Cai Y, Xia J, Zhou X, Xu S, Huang H, Zhang L, Zhou X, Du C, Zhang Y, Song J, Wang S, Chao Y, Yang Z, Xu J, Zhou X, Chen D, Xiong W, Xu L, Zhou F, Jiang J, Bai C, Zheng J, Song Y. 2020. Risk factors associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome and death in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia in Wuhan, China. JAMA Internal Medicine. American Medical Association. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.0994
Zheng HL, Guo ZL, Wang M, Yang C, An SY, Wu W. 2021. Effects of climate variables on the transmission of COVID-19: a systematic review of 62 ecological studies. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15929-5
Zhou F, Yu T, Du R, Fan G, Liu Y, Liu Z, Xiang J, Wang Y, Song B, Gu X, Guan L, Wei Y, Li H, Wu X, Xu J, Tu S, Zhang Y, Chen H, Cao B. 2020. Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. The Lancet. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3
Houndonougbo Antoine, Lagaki Koudousse, Dramane Gado, Chogolou Ruth, Sanoussi Falilath, Kissira Islamiath, Sohou Stephane, Oloukou Freedy, Senou Elie, Yadouleton Anges, 2025. Absence of climatic factors influence on the prevalence of COVID-19 in Benin: A spatiotemporal analysis. Int. J. Biosci., 27(5), 16-23.
Copyright © 2025 by the Authors. This article is an open access article and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.