WHO-AIIMS Seroprevalence Study Findings May Save Children From Third Wave
Dr Puneet Misra-Professor(AIIMS), New Delhi's important findings.
Image Credit:Sudarsan Pattnaik
Positive India:New Delhi:
WHO and All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi has collaborated to conduct Sero surveillance of COVID-19. It was conducted under the leadership of Dr Puneet Mishra(AIIMS).
Some important findings of WHO-AIIMS seroprevalence study under leadership of Dr Puneet Misra, Professor, Community Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi are as under.
Resettlement colony in Urban area of South Delhi which have a very congested population had a very high (highest reported yet in any sero-assessment) seroprevalence of 74.7% even before the second wave
0-18 age group (School going) age group in South Delhi had as much seroprevalence (73.9%) as the >18 years (74.8%)
These areas in Delhi and NCR (Faridabad) may have higher seroprevalence after the intense second wave. Probably, these levels of seroprevalence may be protective against any ‘Third wave’
Also in congested Urban areas of Delhi, as children already have high seroprevalence, opening schools, may after all not be a very risky proposition?
Also during the second wave, the NCR region of Faridabad (rural area) has a seroprevalence of 59.3% (almost equal in both age groups), could be considered high compared to previous national surveys.
Gorakhpur rural has a very high seroprevalence of 87.9% (2-18 years with 80.6% and above 18 years with 90.3%). Hopefully these levels should ward off any “Third wave”
The accelerated peaks and precipitous decline in Covid-19 cases in Both Delhi and UP could be explained partially by these findings
Overall, more than half (62.3%) of the rural population surveyed showed evidence of past infection.
Agartala rural site had least seroprevalence (51.9%) probably because it also included some tribal population which generally have lower mobility resulting in lower vulnerability to COVID19 infection.
Dr.Rakesh Gupta(Hospital Board-Chairman);Raipur told findings of sero-prevalence study by WHO-AIIMS are encouraging but we should prepare to save people from the Third Wave of COVID-19.
