Odisha: 65% sero +ve enough to beat 3rd wave | Economic Times

The latest serological survey conducted in Ganjam, Rayagada and Koraput districts revealed a sero-positivity of more than 65% among the people. Experts said this sero prevalence is enough to reduce the impact of the third Covid wave, if any.Assuming that the survey, the fourth such one, done by the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) between June 16 and 20 can be broadly taken as the state's average, Institute of Life Sciences's director Ajay Parida said such high sero-prevalence should help minimise the damage caused by a third wave of Covid, if at all. "The overall sero-positivity being 65% is a positive sign. It being 70% among the 18 plus is even better news. This shows that a large section of unvaccinated people (those below 18 years of age), too, have developed antibodies. This apart, with the vaccination drive under way, the percentage of people developing antibodies will go up further. In such a situation, the third wave of Covid will have a minimum impact," Parida explained.On the possible severity of the third wave, RMRC director Sanghamitra Pati said, "While the 65% sero positivity should be a reason for comfort, there is a catch. The remaining 35%, who don't have antibodies, is also a huge number of people. Though sero positive people would not get severe disease if infected, they can carry the virus and transmit it to people who don't have antibodies. To ensure that the third wave is not as life-threatening as the second one was, all need to wear masks and maintain proper physical distance."The RMRC had randomly collected 1,230 samples from among the community members and 311 samples from among the healthcare workers (HCWs) for the survey. While the overall sero-prevalence in the community is 65.12%, among the HCW it is 85.53%. There is no significant gender difference in antibodies with 67.4% of males (381/565) and 63.2% of females (420/665) having sero positivity. The RMRC said in the 60 plus age group, the sero-prevalence is 83%, which can be attributed to early prefenertial vaccination of the elderly people. While it is 54% among the 0-18 age group, the prevalence is 60% among the 6-18 age group. Given the below 18 age group (not vaccinated) having a handsome sero-prevalence, the children seem to have tolerated the Covid infection without much complications to a great extent though they were exposed, a state health department report presented before chief minister Naveen Patnaik during a review meeting on Friday said.