Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

February 26, 2021

Risk Factors Associated With COVID-19 Transmission Among US Air Force Trainees in a Congregant Setting

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  • A higher number of symptoms and higher viral loads were associated with subsequent clusters of SARS-CoV-2 cases among cohorts of US Air Force basic trainees. Among 10,613 US Air Force basic trainees, of whom 3% (403) received a diagnosis of COVID-19 during the study period, higher numbers of symptoms and higher viral loads (lower cycle threshold (Ct) values) were associated with subsequent development of clusters of individuals with COVID-19 infection. The authors suggest that Ct values may be useful in assessing risk of ongoing transmission in specific cohorts. 
  • Although individual cases of COVID-19 occurred in almost half of all training cohorts, only 11% of cohorts had an initial individual case that resulted in a cluster of 5 or more cases, a success that the authors attributed to effective non-pharmaceutical interventions among the trainees. 

Marcus et al. (Feb 25, 2021). Risk Factors Associated With COVID-19 Transmission Among US Air Force Trainees in a Congregant Setting. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0202