Over 60% have antibodies against coronavirus in Telangana: ICMR sero survey

The fourth round of seroprevalence study in Telangana in June has revealed that seropositivity rate is 60.1 per cent among the people of the state.

The fourth round of seroprevalence study in Telangana in June has revealed that seropositivity rate (IgG positivity, indicative of silent, prior exposure to SARS-CoV2) is 60.1 per cent among the people of the state.For the first time, children in the six to nine-year age group were included in the fourth phase. The survey was conducted in Jangaon, Nalgonda and Kamareddy Districts.The study revealed that about 55 per cent of the children (6-9 years) were found to be sero-positive, while 61 per cent adolescents had Covid-19 antibodies.Among the healthcare workers, the sero-positivity was as high as 82.4 per cent, a large chunk of it can also be attributed to early vaccination to frontline workers. ALSO READ | Govt supports reopening schools day after AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria's interview to India TodayThe first round of the sero-survey, conducted in May 2020 and the second and the third rounds were conducted in August and December, 2020 in the same districts showed a sero-prevalence of 0.33 per cent, 12.5 per cent and 24.1 per cent respectively.The sero-prevalence at the national level went up from 24 per cent in December 2020 to 67 per cent in June 2021, however in Telangana it went up from 24.1 per cent to 60.1 per cent during the same time frame.Interestingly, the study also found that among those who were not vaccinated at all the sero-positivity was low at 51.3 per cent, while among those who received one dose of vaccination, it was 78.5 and it was 94 per cent among those who got both the shots.