News Analysis India

Tag: Anti-bodies

  • Over 20 per cent of adults have antibodies against Covid-19 in India: ICMR sero-survey

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The overall percentage of people above 18 years with antibodies against Covid-19 virus in India was 21.4 per cent, the third national sero-survey by the ICMR to assess the true spread of SARS CoV 2 has shown. For the survey carried out between December 17 to January 8, blood samples from 28,589 individuals and another group of 7,171 healthcare workers were tested from 70 districts across 21 states and UTs.

    The findings also revealed that while seroprevalence among children aged 10-17 years was 25.3 per cent, it was 25.7 per cent among healthcare workers, announced ICMR director general Balram Bhargava at a press briefing on Thursday. Unlike earlier surveys that looked for antibodies against the viral nucleocapsid, the third survey also looked for spike protein antibodies.

    The overall figure of 21.7 seropositivity, shared by Bhargava, is based only on the results of spike protein antibodies and not the other one.

    The survey, based on the combined results from both the tests has estimated the average infection prevalence at about 25 per cent, a figure skipped in the briefing but may later get published in the detailed scientific paper.

    “Amongst healthcare workers, seroprevalence was the highest with 25.7 per cent. Statistically, it was not different between doctors, nurses, field staff, and paramedics, but it was highest among doctors and nurses with 26.6 per cent as against the administrative staff which was 24.9 per cent,” said the ICMR DG.

    ​He stressed that as the survey has shown still lower penetration of the virus in the population, a large proportion still remains vulnerable and therefore prevention is the key and vaccines are necessary.

  • Anti-bodies found in 5.56 percent of the people in 10 districts of Chhattisgarh

    Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released the report of SERO Surveillance conducted in 10 districts of Chhattisgarh. In this surveillance, antibodies that fight against corona infection have been found in 5.56% people of the state. ICMR Team had collected total 5083 samples from 10 districts for SERO Surveillance. This includes 97 samples of common people and 186 samples of high-risk group. 
    On an average 240 samples of common people and 260 samples from high-risk group were collected from every district for SERO Surveillance. ICMR, New Delhi and RMRC (Regional Medical Research Centre), Bhubaneshwar, in association with National Health Mission under State Government’s Health and Family Welfare Department, collected samples from 60 clusters of 20 development blocks in 10 districts. Samples were collected from both urban and rural areas. According to SERO Surveillance report, antibodies have been found in bodies of 13.06% people of Raipur district, 3.75% people of Rajnandgaon, 8.61% people of Durg, 7.2% people of Bilaspur, 1.51% people of Jashpur, 5.57% people of Balodabazar-Bhatapara, 1.74% people of Balrampur-Ramanujganj district, 2.79% people of Korba district, 8.2% people of Janjgir-Champa district and 3.64% people of Mungeli district. 
    During SERO surveillance, 66 out of total 505 samples compiled in three clusters of two blocks of Raipur district have been found positive. 13 out of 158 samples taken from Tilda block and 53 out of 347 samples collected from Dharsinwa (Raipur) block have been found to be antibody positive. Out of the 506 samples taken from Rajnandgaon district, 19 have been found antibody positive. 15 out of 321 samples collected from Rajnandgaon development block and four out of 185 samples collected from Dongargarh development block have been found antibody positive. Likewise, antibodies have been found in 43 out of 499 samples taken in Durg district. 25 out of 248 samples collected in Durg block, and 18 out of 251 samples of Patan block have been found antibody positive.