“ICMR Serological Survey” -One in five Indians have been exposed to coronavirus,

What is the News?

Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) has released the third round of the Serological Survey.

Facts:

• Serological Survey: It is conducted to assess the prevalence of a disease in a population. It is done by detecting the presence of specific antibodies that are produced against the virus.
• How was the survey conducted? The survey used an antibody test. The test was designed specifically to check for antibodies produced against the spike protein.
  • Spike Protein: Coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2 get their name from the “corona” or crown shape, created by the protein “spikes” on their surface. These spike proteins bind with human proteins to initiate the process of infection.

Key Findings:

• Nearly one in five Indians which is around 21.5% had been infected by the coronavirus until December 2020.
• Urban Slums: The urban slums have reported the highest seroprevalence with 31.7% and was followed by urban non-slums(26.2%). The lowest was in rural areas at 19.1%.
• Children: The seroprevalence among children aged 10-17 years was around 25.3%.
• Health Care Workers: Nearly 26% of doctors and nurses and 25.4% of paramedical staff have coronavirus antibodies. It underlines their higher risk of being exposed to coronavirus infections than the general population.
• Women vs Men: There were more women (22.7%) as compared to men (20.3%) who were found to have antibodies against the Covid-19 virus.

Source: The Hindu