Data shows susceptibility increases within months
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 9: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the nation’s top medical research organization conducted the third round of national serosurvey for COVID-19 titled in December 2020 which showed a seroprevalence of 31.5% in district Pulwama.
This third round was conducted to see the changing trend of population response to SARS COV-2 infection over these months since the second round was held in July-August this year where the prevalence of IgG antibody titres were found 27.3% among the general population in Pulwama district.
Later on, a district-wise survey was conducted in all districts of Kashmir in October 2020 by Government Medical College Srinagar where the overall prevalence of SARS COV-2 specific IgG antibodies among the general population was 38 8% with Pulwama having highest prevalence at 43.1%
In the third round of ICMR’s national serosurvey, blood samples of 400 participants of children over 10 years and adult population were collected. The study also included 100 health care workers from SDH Tral in the district Pulwama.
In the first two rounds of ICMR serosurvey, the seroprevalence in district Pulwama was found to be 2% (May-June) and 27.3% (August) respectively while the recent study by GMC Srinagar in district Pulwama in October showed prevalence risen to 43.1% among the general population, highest among 10 districts in Kashmir division.
The seroprevalence among health care providers was found to be 32% while recent seroprevalence study conducted by GMC Srinagar across all districts hospitals and GMC Srinagar Associated Hospitals showed seropositivity of 27.3%.
The decreasing trend, the GMC Srinagar which is conducting the survey said, is a bit worrisome as it’s believed that antibodies don’t last long and the susceptibility to contracting COVID infection increase after some months of exposure.
“However, the initiation of COVID Vaccination may bring some hope in building up the immunity in the population termed as herd immunity,” it said.
The study, it said, also signifies the importance of getting COVID Vaccination by all eligible and entitled groups in the community.
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