COVID-19 BMC starts second phase of sero-survey in Mumbai

    Mumbai, Aug 10 (PTI)The Mumbai civic body has started
the second phase of sero-surveillance study in the city from
Monday to assess the spread of COVID-19 and how many people
have developed antibodies against the disease.
    The survey will cover F-North (Dadar, Matunga and
Dharavi), M-West (Deonar and Govandi) and R-North (Dahisar)
wards, where a similar study was conducted last month, a
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said.
    The study will provide information about the spread of
the infection and also throw light on herd immunity, he said.
    "The sero-surveillance study will give an insight into
the spread of COVID-19 and development of antibodies. The
paper work for the survey has begun from today," Additional
Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said.
    If everything goes as per the plan, the survey is
expected to be completed in 12 days, he said.
    A serological survey involves testing of blood serum
of individuals to check for the prevalence of antibodies
against an infection.
    The sero survey conducted in the first half of July
revealedthat 57 per cent of slum population and 16 per cent
of non-slum residents in the three civic wards had developed
antibodies. It showed high proportion of asymptomatic COVID-19
infection in the city.
    During the study last month, 6,936 samples out of an
estimated 8,870 were collected from slum and non-slum
population of the three civic wards.
    The serological surveillance for SARS-CoV2 infection
has been jointly commissioned by the NITI Aayog, the BMC and
the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
    The study is being carried out in collaboration with
organisations like the Kasturba Molecular Diagnostic
Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology
Institute (THSTI), A T E Chandra Foundation and IDFC
Institute. PTI KK
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)