Bengaluru, Nov 4: A serological survey carried out to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 in Karnataka has revealed that while 16.4 percent of the 15,624 samples studied had developed antibodies against Covid, 12.7 percent had a current (active) infection.
Minister for Health and Medical Education Dr K Sudhakar, speaking after releasing the results on Wednesday, said that the overall adjusted prevalence of COVID-19 in the State was 27.3 percent (IgG and active infection combined).
The survey from September 3 to September 16 included the proportion of people who have recently had a Covid-19 infection and those who currently have an active infection with SARS-CoV-2. The sample population studied were aged 18 years and above in all the 30 districts, including eight BBMP areas, were included in the survey. The survey was carried out in 290 hospitals and in some population settings.
The study used the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and RT-PCR for the diagnosis of acute infection. Serum IgG antibody tests have also been performed to understand the protection offered by the immune response. Standard ICMR protocols and the state-approved ICMR network of labs were used, he said.
“Although 16,585 people were surveyed covering the three risk categories (low, moderate and high), the analysis was performed on the results of 15,624 people including the results of the RAT antibody tests plus RT-PCR and COVID Kavach ELISA corresponded to the lineage list.
Giridhar R. Babu, a member of the state’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), said up to 19 districts have a high case-to-infection ratio (more than 40). “There is a need to improve case detection through a syndromic approach here, to improve testing and ensure that other public health actions (avoiding 3Cs and tracking 3Ws) are implemented effectively”.
The 19 districts covered by the survey are Vijayapura, Belagavi, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Raichur, Ramanagar, Haveri, Chamarajanagar, Bidar, Davanagere, Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Kolar, Kodagu, Mandya, Chikmagalur, Ballari, Bengaluru Rural, Hassan.
Districts with a low case-to-infection ratio (BBMP Bommanahalli, BBMP East, BBMP West, BBMP South, Mysuru) suggest that the strategy employed for testing is reasonable and can be replicated in other districts, he added.
Out of about 7.07 crore population in Karnataka, the study estimates that 1.93 crore (27.3 per cent) are either currently infected or already infected in the past, as of September 16, 2020. he declares.
According to the second round of ICMR serological surveys, the weighted and adjusted prevalence among people aged ≥ 10 years was 6.6 percent, urban slums comprising 15.6 percent and urban non-slum areas 8.2 percent.
At the state level, it was estimated that there were 40 undetected infected people for each case confirmed by RT-PCR, resulting in a case-to-undetected infection (CIR) ratio of 1:40. The case / infection ratio varied from 10 to 111 depending on the unit. In the national seroprevalence survey conducted by the ICMR, the CIR was 81.6 to 130.1 in the first round (May), which improved in the second round to 26 to 32 infections per case.
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