SARS-CoV-2: Pulwama & Budgam lead at 43% in seroprevalence

SRINAGAR — The first ever seroprevalence study in Kashmir division for SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies conducted across all 10 districts shows IgG antibodies among 38.8% sampled population.

The study organised by Government Medical College Srinagar and J&K National Health Mission in collaboration with SKIMS, SKIMS Medical College, Government Medical College Anantnag, Government Medical College Baramulla and Directorate of Health Services Kashmir covered all 10 districts of Kashmir division. The participant’s data was collected on customised EpiCollect 5 mobile platform.

A total of 6,230 blood samples comprising population sample of 400 persons across 10 clusters in each of nine districts and 2,418 samples in Srinagar district were tested for presence of IgG antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 infection in high tech Abbott Laboratories’ Architect analyser by Department of Biochemistry, GMC Srinagar.

The preliminary data presented by Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Srinagar, the coordinating centre for the study, shows that seroprevalence was more in central and north Kashmir than south districts with Pulwama 43.1%, Budgam 43.0%, Kupwara 42.3%, Srinagar 40.7%, Bandipora 39.8%, Ganderbal 39.0%, Anantnag 35.2%, Baramulla 34.6%, Shopian 31.9% and Kulgam 28.5%.

The age-wise analysis shows more seroprevalence among elderly population while gender wise, it’s more among females (40.2%) as against males (37.3%).

Over half of the sampled population (52.1%) who had Influenza like illness (ILI) showed IgG antibodies and surprisingly among those who didn’t show any symptoms, 37.9% showed IgG antibodies.

Half of the sampled population who had history of contact with a COVID case showed IgG antibodies while among those who had no history of contact, 40% showed IgG antibodies.

Among those who had tested positive for COVID test, only 79.5% showed antibodies. Even among 912 persons who have tested negative on COVID tests, 345 (37.8%) expressed COVID specific IgG antibodies.

Dr. S. Muhammad Salim Khan, head of the department, Community Medicine, Government Medical College Srinagar, while sharing details said, “The study indicates that there has been widespread transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in general population and there are apprehensions that the majority of unaffected population may also contract the COVID infection if SOPs aren’t followed.”

He added, “There seems complacency among general population and very few people are now using face masks. The gatherings in public places also show people are not adhering to social distancing norms.”

The five medical colleges and institutions were responsible for conducting trainings and monitoring of two districts each while the concerned deputy commissioners and chief medical officers facilitated execution of the study in their respective districts.

The study was funded by J&K National Health Mission, the main collaborator of the study and was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee of GMC Srinagar.