Fresh seroprevalence study begins in Kashmir

HOD at Community Medicine GMC Srinagar, Dr S. Muhammad Salim Khan said, they would conduct a house-to-house survey across 10 clusters in each district.

“During this survey, children from seven years and above, adult population, pregnant women, health care providers and police personnel would be sampled with support from respective DCs and CMOs staff and shall be monitored by five medical colleges/ institutions with each covering two districts,” he said.

The survey is personally monitored by the additional chief secretary, Health and Medical Education  Department, J&K Atal Dulloo and is being supported by J&K National Health Mission and facilitated by the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir.

Khan, who is also a member of the recommending committee constituted by the government, said during the survey data shall be entered in Epicollect5 mobile app and blood samples would be collected and analysed by the Department of Biochemistry, GMC Srinagar, a nodal BSL-2 lab for the serosurvey.

“The blood samples would be tested for detecting antibodies which would show body response to infection as well as Immunisation,” he said.

Khan said the samples are collected in around two weeks and then results are expected a week later.

“This important study would guide the policymakers and implementers about necessary preparations  required for possible third wave within the community and also would indicate about the success of  Covid vaccination among various subsets of population,” he said.

Last year, four rounds of sero-survey were conducted in Srinagar and one pan Kashmir district-wise  study was conducted in all districts of Kashmir which showed a cumulative sero-positivity of around 40  percent during October last year.

Further Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the premium research centre, also conducted four rounds of seroprevalence studies across 70 districts of the country since early last year including a  recent one in June this year which included Pulwama district in J&K.

The ICMR study was also facilitated by the Department of Community Medicine GMC Srinagar in collaboration with district administration and health authorities of the Pulwama district.

“Similar seroprevalence study is expected to start in Jammu division soon that would give the overall prevalence of COVID immunity status in the population of Jammu and Kashmir,” Khan said.

About this survey a training workshop was conducted at Department of Community Medicine GMC  Srinagar, the nodal centre for sero prevalence study in Kashmir, with partner institutions including departments of Community Medicine at SKIMS, SKIMS Medical College Bemina, GMC Anantnag,  Baramulla along with Chief Medical Officers or their representatives and epidemiologists of all districts of Kashmir Division.