At least two-third population in 11 states has developed COVID-19 antibodies, finds serosurvey

New Delhi: At least two-third of the population surveyed in 11 states were found to have developed coronavirus antibodies, according to the findings of a serosurvey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) done between 14 June and 6 July. Madhya Pradesh leads the chart with 79 percent seroprevalence while Kerala is at the bottom with 44.4 percent. Seroprevalence in Assam is 50.3 percent and Maharashtra 58 percent. The findings of the fourth round of national serosurvey conducted by the ICMR across 70 districts of India was shared by the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday. Seroprevalence was found to be 76.2 percent among the surveyed population in Rajasthan, 75.9 percent in Bihar, 75.3 percent in Gujarat, 74.6 percent in Chhattisgarh, 73.1 percent in Uttarakhand, 71 percent in Uttar Pradesh, 70.2 percent in Andhra Pradesh, 69.8 percent in Karnataka, 69.2 in Tamil Nadu and 68.1 percent in Odisha. Referring to the findings, the Health Ministry has advised states and union territories to conduct seroprevalence studies of their own in consultation with the ICMR to ensure that those studies follow a standardised protocol. The findings of such serosurveys can then be utilised quickly by the states to guide objective, transparent and evidence-based public health response to COVID-19. “The national sero-survey by ICMR was designed to capture the extent of the spread of Covid infection at the national level. Therefore, the national serosurvey results do not reflect the heterogeneity of seroprevalence between districts and even between states,” a statement said.