Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 28: The round-2 of the Seroprevalence has shown 40.6 per cent of the population in Srinagar district has developed antibodies for COVID-19.
The serosurvey was conducted in twenty clusters across Srinagar district coving both urban and rural areas. Incidentally, the prevalence was found more among women and in the elderly population.
Around 82% persons who had previously tested positive for COVID using RTPCR/ RAT showed IgG antibodies within their blood samples, while surprisingly, 37% who have tested negative on RTPCR / RAT also showed the presence of antibodies against SARS CoV-2 Infection.
The results state that some areas showed over one half to two-thirds of the sampled population to have positive samples for COVID antibodies.
Further, nine hundred fifty-nine (959) samples were positive for IgG against SARS-CoV-2 giving a seroprevalence of 40.6%.
Out of the 2,361 participants, 1,335 were male and 1,026 were female. The seroprevalence was significantly higher among females (459/1026=44.7%) as compared to males (500/1335=37.5%).
The seroprevalence results state, also increased significantly with age.
Those with a history of ILI-symptoms in the previous three months and those with a history of contact with a known COVID-19 case had higher seroprevalence as compared to their counterparts with no such history.
Out of a total of 115 participants who reported having a positive COVID-19 test (RAT/RT-PCR) ever, 95 (82.6%) were seropositive.
Dr S. Muhammad Salim Khan, Professor and HoD Community Medicine Government Medical College Srinagar and principal investigator of the study said that the present study showed a manifold increase in Seropositivity among Srinagar population as compared to our previous study conducted in June this year.
“In June, the seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 Infection in Srinagar district was just 3.8%. It shows that the majority of the population has been exposed to SARS COV-2 virus and we shall continue to follow SOPs religiously to prevent infection among vulnerable populations especially elderly and persons with co-morbidities,” he said.
He also said that if we extrapolate the results of the study on the general population of Srinagar district, we may presume that around 6 lac population must be expected to be seropositive to SARS COV-2 infection amongst 15 Lac population in Srinagar district.
The serosurvey is currently undergoing in nine other districts of Kashmir division this time and their results are expected soon.
The Government Medical College Srinagar’s Departments of Community Medicine and Biochemistry is carrying out this survey in collaboration with CMO Srinagar, Directorate of Health Services and supported by JK National Health Mission.
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