45% of Karnataka's population was infected with covid-19 by August, says a new study

News Network
November 10, 2020

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Bengaluru, Nov 10: A whopping 44.5% of Karnataka’s population was infected with Covid-19 by the end of August, said a team of Indian and American researchers who completed a randomised Covid-19 testing study.

This estimate stands in sharp contrast to the state’s official sero-survey which determined that 27.3% of the population was exposed to the virus. The diverging studies appear to suggest that this is because the state’s sero-survey did not conduct enough random tests.

The survey, titled “Karnataka Seroprevalence Study” (KSS), began on June 15 and ended on August 29. It saw researchers from Duke University in North Carolina, the University of Chicago, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) and Mapmygenome, supported by the State Covid Task Force, reach out to 1,907 random households across 20 districts of Karnataka.

The homes were identified from an existing and representative sample of 9,717 households, drawn from the Pyramids Household Survey (CPHS), a longitudinal household panel data set assembled by the Mumbai-based Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).

The survey has now estimated that a shocking 3.15 crore residents had been infected by the virus by the end of August 2020, which is higher than the figure of 1.93 crore persons currently infected or recovered from Covid according to the government survey.

Another key finding is that rural areas have been hit equally badly as urban areas because of returning migrants and because there were fewer lockdowns there due to ongoing agricultural activities.

Commissioner of Health Pankaj Kumar Pandey said the disparity in findings could be due to KSS’ small sample size.

 “A small sample size can skew estimates. Plus the KSS’ use of households sourced from an economic survey can create a distorted picture. The state’s sero-survey results, meantime, have tallied largely with nationwide sero-survey results,” he said.

One of the authors of the KSS study, Associate Professor Manoj Mohanan of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke, told DH that one reason for the disparity is the different strategies used.

“We aimed to get at the population-representative sample while the state’s study focused on target-risk groups. This is likely to cause some variation, especially because consent rates are likely to differ,” he said.

That the studies used different antibody tests is also a factor, he added. “We relied on the Elisa test for the RBD spike protein that was developed by THSTI while the other study relied on the Covid Kavach Elisa,” he said.

Scientists of the DBT India Consortium for Covid-19 Research had published a paper in August showing that the ICMR-designed Covid Kavach Elisa test has a specificity of 99.5% and a sensitivity of 75.7%. In contrast, THSTI’s Elisa test was shown to have a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 84.7%.

“Sensitivity” is the ability to identify those with antibodies to Sars-Cov-2 (true positive rate), and “specificity” is the ability to identify those without antibodies to Sars-CoV-2 (true negative rate).

Professor Mohanan also pointed out that the RT-PCR positive rates in the state’s sero-survey (12.7%) are “slightly higher than the high-end of our estimates for current infection”.

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News Network
January 4,2025

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Bengaluru, Jan 4: Kannada star Dr Shivarajkumar, son of Kannada film legend Dr Rajkumar, has been discharged from the hospital in Miami, US, following complete recovery from cancer, family sources confirmed on Saturday.

Nivedita, Shivarajkumar’s daughter, has shared a picture showing the actor and family in a relaxed mode. Sources further stated that Shivarajkumar will be in the US for follow-ups and resting for one month and he will be back for the shooting by Feb first or the second week.

Shivarajkumar is expected to begin shooting of the Telugu superstar Ramcharan-starrer pan India movie soon. 

Earlier, Shivarajkumar shared a video from the US on the first day of 2025, detailing his journey of overcoming cancer and assuring fans of his return.

In the video, he conveyed his New Year wishes to everyone and said, “I am hesitant to speak as I might get emotional at this moment. Leaving Karnataka was a very emotional experience for me. Under these circumstances, fear is inevitable, but the support of my fans has significantly reduced it.”

He continued, “The way the doctors took care of me, gave me immense courage. While shooting for the movie ‘45’, I underwent chemotherapy and even filmed the climax fight scene. As the date to leave for the US for treatment approached, I became anxious. However, my wife Geetha and daughter Nivedita stood by me throughout.”

“Dr Manohar, who treated me, cared for me like a child. My urinary bladder has been replaced, but there is no need for anyone to panic. I am doing well and will be back with double the energy. I thank all my fans for their unwavering support,” Shivarajkumar assured.

Geetha Shivarajkumar, his wife, who had appeared in the video alongside him, stated that all the medical reports had come back negative, and it was officially declared that Shivarajkumar is cancer-free. “He recovered because of the blessings of his fans, and I will never forget this,” she said.

The actor underwent surgery at a hospital in Miami, US, where his cancerous bladder was removed. According to the surgeon, Dr Murugesh Manoharan, an artificial bladder was created using Shivarajkumar’s intestine.

In November, Shivarajkumar had spoken publicly about his illness, acknowledging that he was human like everyone else. While he didn’t disclose it was cancer at the time, he said, “At the end of the day, I am a human being. I have a health issue and am currently undergoing treatment for it. I have completed a couple of treatment sessions, and a few more are pending. After that, I will undergo surgery, either in India or the US.”

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News Network
January 13,2025

Udupi: A resident of Karkala in Udupi district has accused five individuals of defrauding him of nearly Rs 2 crore under the guise of business partnerships.

Dawood Hakim, a resident of Ennehole in Marne village, Karkala, has filed a complaint stating that he operated a mobile sales and service business on Karkala Market Road for 15 years. He had known the accused for over two decades and trusted them implicitly.

According to Dawood, the accused convinced him to invest in multiple business ventures, including land dealings and a travel business, promising substantial returns and partnership benefits. Believing their assurances, Dawood reportedly handed over cash, gold, and a vehicle.

However, the promised profits never materialized, and the accused allegedly failed to return the money or assets. Dawood claims this deception has caused severe financial distress to him and his family, amounting to a loss of around Rs 2 crore.

A case has been registered at the CEN police station, and investigations are underway.

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News Network
January 9,2025

Mangaluru: Establishing a Beary Development Corporation is a valid demand, but its implications must be carefully studied, remarked Speaker UT Khader. He proposed forming an expert committee to evaluate the corporation’s potential impact on the Beary community during a district-level conference of the Beary-speaking community, organized by the Akhila Bharata Beary Mahasabha at Kudmul Ranga Rao Town Hall on Wednesday.

Khader expressed concerns over inefficiencies in existing government-established corporations, such as unfilled leadership positions, lack of appointed members, and insufficient funding. “The Beary Development Corporation must avoid similar pitfalls,” he emphasized. He noted that the Minorities Development Corporation already provides various schemes for Beary Muslims, urging a detailed assessment to ensure the new corporation’s funding does not fall short of current provisions, which could disadvantage the community.

Praising the industrious and self-respecting nature of the Beary community, Khader highlighted the respect Beary elders once commanded in villages. He encouraged the youth to uphold this legacy and actively contribute to the community’s progress. Additionally, he commended the Beary youth for their swift and dedicated responses during emergencies, which have garnered widespread recognition.

Khader underscored the importance of unity, cautioning against fostering divisions within the community. He also stressed the critical role of education in development, urging the maintenance of detailed records for SSLC and PUC students to track progress.

The event was presided over by Azeez Baikampadi, president of the Akhila Bharata Beary Mahasabha. Among the dignitaries present were former MLA Mohiudeen Bava and retired police officer GA Bawa. Dr. UT Ifikhar Ali Farid, honorary president of the Akhila Bharata Beary Mahasabha and chairman of the Karnataka State Allied and Healthcare Council, was felicitated during the program.

In notable initiatives, Kanachuru Monu, chairman of Kanachuru Medical College, unveiled the Mahasabha’s new website, while Sheikhabba Karnire of Expertise Company, Jubail, launched an IAS-IPS program aimed at empowering the Beary community.

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