AI4PAN Artificial Intelligence for Pandemics Seminar Series centred at UQ

Event Details

Date:

Wednesday, 28 July 2021

Time:

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Location:

Zoom: https://uqz.zoom.us/j/86567032193

URL:

https://ai4pandemics.org/

Event category(s):

Full Description:: The group's focus is the application of data science, machine learning, statistical learning, applied mathematics, computation, and other 'artificial intelligence' techniques for managing pandemics both at the epidemic and clinical level.

Speaker: Dr Kirsty Short, The University of Queensland

Zoom Link: https://uqz.zoom.us/j/86567032193

Title: The role of children in the spread of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract: The role of children in the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains highly controversial. To address this issue, we performed a meta-analysis of the published literature on household SARS-CoV-2 transmission clusters (n = 213 from 12 countries). Only 8 (3.8%) transmission clusters were identified as having a pediatric index case. Asymptomatic index cases were associated with a lower secondary attack in contacts than symptomatic index cases (estimate risk ratio [RR], 0.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-0.29). To determine the susceptibility of children to household infections the secondary attack rate in pediatric household contacts was assessed. The secondary attack rate in pediatric household contacts was lower than in adult household contacts (RR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.42-0.91). These data have important implications for the ongoing management of the COVID-19 pandemic, including potential vaccine prioritization strategies.