Epidemiological profile of SARS-CoV-2 in Mauritania

Khadijetou Ahmed; Sidi M Mohamed Mahmoud; Cheikh T Hamed; Mohamed LCB Ahmed; Mohamed Vall Mohamed Abdellhi

doi:10.3855/jidc.20677

Epidemiological profile of SARS-CoV-2 in Mauritania

Authors

Khadijetou Ahmed Research Unit—Molecular Epidemiology and Diversity of Microorganisms (EMDM)— FST, Nouakchott University, Nouakchott, Mauritania https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1862-5733
Sidi M Mohamed Mahmoud Research Unit—Molecular Epidemiology and Diversity of Microorganisms (EMDM)— FST, Nouakchott University, Nouakchott, Mauritania
Cheikh T Hamed National Institute of Hepato-Virology in Nouakchott, Mauritania
Mohamed LCB Ahmed Research Unit—Molecular Epidemiology and Diversity of Microorganisms (EMDM)— FST, Nouakchott University, Nouakchott, Mauritania
Mohamed Vall Mohamed Abdellhi Research Unit—Molecular Epidemiology and Diversity of Microorganisms (EMDM)— FST, Nouakchott University, Nouakchott, Mauritania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.20677

Keywords:

epidemiology, SARS-CoV-2, Delta variant, Mauritania

Abstract

Introduction: This study was conducted with a profound sense of urgency and has provided significant results that will complement previous studies carried out in Mauritania—a country with unique socio-economic and healthcare characteristics—to monitor the epidemiological situation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study aimed to comprehensively and rigorously investigate the epidemiological profile of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains circulating in Mauritanian patients.

Methodology: This descriptive study was carried out on 84 patients at the Cheikh Mohamed Ben Zayed Hospital and the National Institute of Hepato-Virology in Nouakchott. The samples were sequenced by next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the Illumina NextSeq 2000 type. The data were analyzed by the EPI Info 7 and SPSS 21 software.

Results: The average age of the patients was 51 years, and the distribution of cases by age showed that the virus did not select a specific age group. The results indicated that the most frequent variant was Delta (33.33%). The death rate was very high (34.52%) compared to the national death rate, with a peak in the 58–69 years age group.

Conclusions: This study provides an overview of the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Mauritania. These findings not only help identify what policies or strategies should be designed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, but also pave the way for a more effective response to similar pandemics in the future.

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Published

2025-11-30

How to Cite

Ahmed K, Mohamed Mahmoud SM, Hamed CT, Ahmed ML, Mohamed Abdellhi MV (2025) Epidemiological profile of SARS-CoV-2 in Mauritania. J Infect Dev Ctries 19:1592–1597. doi: 10.3855/jidc.20677

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Issue

Vol. 19 No. 11: November 2025

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic

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