Open Journal of Epidemiology, 2021, 11, 101-112 https://www.scirp.org/journal/ojepi ISSN Online: 2165-7467 ISSN Print: 2165-7459 DOI: 10.4236/ojepi.2021.111010 Feb. 19, 2021 101 Open Journal of Epidemiology Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Misrata, Libya: A Population-Based Surveillance Study Anas Zarmouh 1 , Hussien Elaswdi 1* , Essam Elakhtel 2 , Khalid Abufalgha 1,2 , Mohamed Taraina 1,2 1 Misurata University Faculty of Medicine, Misrata, Libya 2 Misurata Medical Centre, Misrata, Libya Abstract Background: The prevalence of SARS-COV2 in Libya is unclear; PCR is still under-performed. Although lockdown measures have been in place for weeks, there is no prevalence data to support the gradual lifting of such lock- downs. SARS-COV2 IgM/IgG is emerging as potential alternatives to PCR testing, and many counties and towns have undertaken such seroprevalence studies. Objective: Prevalence of SARS-COV2 in Misrata, Libya amongst the population as a whole. Materials and Methods: The study was prospective, cross-sectional, population-based, and age-stratified, to assess SARS-COV2 IgM/IgG in the population of Misrata. It was carried out between the 18th and 21st of April, 2020. Results: A representative sample of 897 participants was tested for SARS-COV2 IgM/IgG antibodies. 30 participants were positive for IgM or IgG indicating a prevalence of 3.4% (95% CI, 2.8% - 5.2%), with eight (0.9%) IgM positive and 22 (2.4%) IgG positive. Accordingly, 9075 (95% CI, 6586 - 14,170) people are estimated to have had a current or recent COVID-19 infection, symptomatic or asymptomatic. Conclusion and Rec- ommendations: Serological testing as a diagnostic or surveillance tool may uncover a large proportion of asymptomatic individuals in the community, far outnumbering PCR. The authors highly recommend further precautio- nary public measures, as well as an ongoing surveillance programme to mon- itor the epidemiological trends of the disease in the city of Misrata and Libya in general. Keywords Prevalence, SARS-COV2 IgM/IgG, PCR 1. Introduction COVID-19 declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) How to cite this paper: Zarmouh, A., Elaswdi, H., Elakhtel, E., Abufalgha, K. and Taraina, M. (2021) Epidemiology of COVID- 19 in Misrata, Libya: A Population-Based Surveillance Study. Open Journal of Epi- demiology, 11, 101-112. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojepi.2021.111010 Received: December 16, 2020 Accepted: February 16, 2021 Published: February 19, 2021 Copyright © 2021 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access