GMC starts Sero-Prevalence study in Srinagar, samples of 3000 healthcare workers to be taken
Srinagar, June 15 (KNO): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in a recently conducted community based Sero-Survey has found that around 30 percent individuals in containment zones are exposed to deadly pandemic.
Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that 28,595 households in 83 districts of India were covered in the Survey. Of the 83 districts, 15 had no cases of Covid-19, 22 had low number of Covid-19 cases, 16 had medium and 18 were high-risk districts.
The survey conducted has found that 0.73 percent of the population has history of covid-19 infection in these 83 districts.
ICMR has also advised strict implementation of Physical distancing, use of face mask, hand hygiene and cough etiquette as large number of the population is susceptible and infection can spread. Urban slums are highly vulnerable for the spread of infection and Elderly, chronic morbidities, pregnant women and children of below 10 age needs to be protected, ICMR reiterated.
Pertinently, a Sero-survey involves testing of blood serum from a group of individuals to find out prevalence of covid-19 infection in whole population.
Officials from J&K said that in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory ICMR conducted survey in Pulwama district where four hundred samples were taken and sero-prevalence of 2 percent was found in the district.
They said that Pulwama was part of 22 districts in which covid-19 prevalence was low, however the sero-prevalence was found very high there than the general prevalence.
“In Pulwama, despite being part of district where prevalence of covid-19 was low however prevalence was found 2 percent there,” Dr Saleem Khan who heads the department of social and preventive medicine at GMC Srinagar told KNO
He said that sero-survey involves testing of blood serum from a group of individuals and it helps in estimation of the prevalence of COVID-19 in Population.
Tests were conducted to find out the presence of “IgG antibodies against COVID-19 that appear 14 days after the infection and continue to be present in blood serum for months.”
Dr Khan said that GMC Srinagar on Monday started sero-prevalence in health care professionals in Srinagar district.
He said that samples of 3,000 health care workers working in different hospitals associated with GMC Srinagar besides health centers of Directorate of Health Services under CMO Srinagar will be taken.
He further added that samples will be processed through architect immunoassay analyzer by department of Biochemistry GMC Srinagar. “It will take us around two weeks in conducting survey. It will help us in understanding the spread of COVID-19 especially in high risk group,” he said, adding this project will be extended to other areas as well—(KNO)
