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

The Mumbai civic body has started the second phase of the 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 infection.

The serosurvey conducted in the first half of July revealed that 57% of the slum population and 16% of non-slum residents in the three civic wards had developed antibodies. It showed a 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.

(Image credits: PTI)