Following the first phase of the serological survey conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body has officially started phase 2 of this process. This serological survey is conducted to determine the level of COVID-19 antibodies among the population. Antibodies help fight off the infection, and its presence is usually an indicator that the person was previously infected.
As part of the second phase of the serosurvey, the BMC will collect blood-samples from 5,840 people from slum and non-slum regions across three civic wards - R-North (Dahisar and Mandapeshwar), M-West (Tilaknagar and Chembur), and F-North (Matunga, Sion, and Wadala). These surveys are conducted by the BMC in partnership with NITI-Aayog and TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research).
Phase 2 will see the survey will be conducted among 3,700 people residing in slums and 2,140 in non-slum regions. It is said that volunteers have already reached 68% of sample collection targets with the collection of 3,976 samples from slum and non-slum areas as of late Tuesday.
In July, authorities collected samples from 6,936 individuals residing in the aforementioned wards. Data from this survey showed that among a total of 4,234 people surveyed in slums, 56.5% of the population had COVID-19 antibodies. In contrast, among the 2,702 samples tested from residents of non-slum areas, only 15.5% were shown to be carrying antibodies. Conducting a second survey in the same regions within a span of a month will help the BMC get a better idea of the infected population.
Read - Sero-Survey In Mumbai Has Found That Women Have Higher Levels Of Antibodies Against COVID-19
Speaking on Phase 2 of the sero-survey, BMC’s Additional Municipal Commissioner, Suresh Kakani said - “For over 10 days, we sensitised people in different societies and buildings in the same three wards, so they cooperate with us. We have taken contacts of people who are keen on participating in the survey, which is helping us collect samples quicker without much resistance,” said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner, BMC. He said that if things go as per plan, the survey should be concluded by the weekend.
“We need two sets of data to make the comparison. With the conclusion of the second survey, we can compare the data of the first study with the latter one. This will help us know if the spread of the virus has been controlled or flattened,” Dr Sandeep Juneja said. He is one of the researchers from the TIFR team that was involved in the study.
Also read - BMC Announces Completion Of First-Phase Of Serosurvey Among 10,000 Residents
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