Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among public transport workers in Sweden

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2022.101508Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • The SARS-CoV-2 virus may pose an occupational health risk to public transport workers.

  • SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was found in 50% of non-vaccinated public transport workers in Sweden during the spring of 2021.

  • The seroprevalence was higher than the reported national seroprevalence in Sweden during the same period.

  • Infection control measures are warranted during virus epidemics to assure public transport workers' safety.

Abstract

Introduction

Public transportation is an essential societal function in crisis situations like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Bus drivers and other public transport workers are essential workers that need to keep working despite the risk of contagion. The SARS-CoV-2 virus may pose an occupational health risk to public transport workers and especially to bus drivers as they interact with passengers in a confined area. By analyzing antibodies towards SARS-CoV-2 proteins in blood samples it is possible to measure if an individual has been infected by COVID-19. Here, we report the prevalence of antibodies among bus drivers and other public transport employees in Stockholm, Sweden and relate it to socio-demographic factors.

Methods

Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies towards SARS-CoV-2 proteins was investigated in a sample of 262 non-vaccinated public transport workers (182 men and 40 women) recruited between April 26 and May 7, 2021. Most of the participants were bus drivers (n = 222). The relationship between socio-demographic factors and seroprevalence was investigated with logistic regression.

Results

The seroprevalence was 50% in the total sample of public transport workers. Among bus drivers, 51% were seropositive compared to 44% seropositive among the other public transport workers. The difference was not significant. The seroprevalence was higher than the national seroprevalence in Sweden during the same period (18.3% in non-vaccinated people aged 20–64 years). The logistic regression model using Wald forward selection showed that men had a higher risk of being seropositive (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3 – 5.8) and there was a higher risk with increasing number of people in the household (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1 – 1.6).

Conclusions

These findings could imply an occupational risk for COVID-19 infection among public transport workers. Infection control measures are warranted during virus epidemics to assure bus drives’ safety and reduce transmission in public transport.

Keywords

COVID-19
Bus driver
Public transport
Seroprevalence
SARS-CoV-2
Infection control

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