THE SPREAD OF SARS COV-2 VIRUS IN THE POLLOG REGION DURING THE 2020 PANDEMICS

Nora ABDIU, Dije DEHARI, Muhamed SHEHABI, Neset IZAIRI, Shefket DEHARI

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus with an approximately 30kb genome. For the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the detection of viral RNA through nucleic acid amplification (NAAT), such as RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction), remains a reference standard. Samples of patients tested for SARS CoV-2 virus at the IPH Laboratory for Moleculary Diagnostics “LAOR” have been used for the realization of this scientific research. This research covers Polog region patients’ data in the period from July 1st through December 31st of 2020. The samples were taken from the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, which then were placed in the viral RNA extraction facility. This procedure was performed through the automated medical equipment: QIAcube Connect (Qiagen) and the kit of reagents: QIAamp Viral RNA Mini QIAcube Kit (Qiagen). The basis of the extraction is the binding of the viral RNA specifically to the silica membrane of the QIAamp. The extracted RNA is amplified and detected through the PCR method. For the amplification process, the QIAquant 96 5plex (Real-Time -PCR)-Qiagen medical device was utilized, as well as the following set of reagents: PrimerdesignTM Ltd Coronavirus COVID-19 genesig® Real-Time PCR assay (Real-Time PCR reagent) and EURORealTime SARS-CoV-2 (Real-Time PCR reagent). The obtained results of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA detection show that of the total number of those tested, only 14.04% were positive. More people were tested in October 2020. Gender-wise, more men were affected, who differ in percentage from the female gender by only 2.82%. Regarding the age group, people over 50 were more affected with a percentage of 40.98%, then the age group of 31-50 years with 35.43%, then the age group of 19-54% and the less affected age group under 18 years with a percentage of 4.06%

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