Feasibility of studying respiratory infection transmission in a Swiss household cohort: Findings from the BEready ("Bern, get ready") study.

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for pandemic preparedness, including the establishment of cohorts allowing for the rapid collection of data and biological specimens. We investigated the feasibility of performing self-sampling for respiratory viruses, online questionnaires, and telemedicine in the "Bern, get ready" (BEready) household-based cohort in Switzerland.

METHODS

In this pilot study, we enrolled 108 households: 161 adults, 32 children, 29 cats and 15 dogs. We instructed participants to collect a nasal swab if they experienced symptoms of a respiratory infection. Household members of index cases collected swabs, including from their pets, a week later to identify secondary cases. Samples were tested for 13 respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV, and rhinovirus, using a commercially available multiplex PCR.

RESULTS

From May 26, 2023 to September 16, 2024, 78 households reported 152 disease events. We obtained valid results from 131/188 (70%) expected samples from index cases, 105/152 (69%) from household contacts, and 24/47 (51%) from pets. Positivity from swabs was 82/131 (63%) among index cases and 24/105 (23%) among human household contacts.

CONCLUSION

Decentralized respiratory virus surveillance was feasible in our household-based cohort. Our study will inform the investigation of future emerging diseases, such as an H5N1 pandemic.