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A Cross-Sectional Study Revealed a Low Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Asymptomatic University Students in
Rayane Rafei1, Layla Tajer1, Dalal Nour1,2
1Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School for Science & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon.
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence among >18-year-old students in the Faculty of Public Health and Faculty of Sciences at the Lebanese University in Tripoli, Northern Lebanon, in June 2023 and to characterize the circulating Omicron subvariants. Out of 357 participants, only 2 (0.56%) tested positive by qPCR, corresponding to 0.61% (2/326) of asymptomatic students. One case tested positive with a qPCR targeting the Omicron BA.2 variant. These findings indicate a low incidence at that time and emphasize the interest of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance among students.

