In order to ascertain the antibodies against Covid-19, a sero survey has begun in Baleswar district by a five-member team of the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) Regional Officer, Bhubaneswar.
The team consisting of a doctor, a scientist, a data entry operator and two laboratory technicians began their operations on Tuesday.
They would collect blood samples of 500 people from various categories including 100 samples from the health and frontline workers in Baleswar Sadar, Soro, Khaira, Nilgiri, Baliapal and Jaleswar blocks.
“A sero survey involves testing of blood serum of a group of individuals and this is used to monitor trends in prevalence of the novel Coronavirus, or SARS-COV-2, infection at the district level and percentage of antibodies in different age groups in different sections. In the district the survey will culminate on September 6. The blood samples are being sent to Bhubaneswar ICMR lab and the result would be known after testing,” District Project Manager, National Health Mission (NHM) Anil Mohanty informed.
For the exercise, 10 clusters have been identified across the six blocks. And the samples are being collected from the persons (both Covid positive and negative), children above 10 and from the elderly persons. On the first day the samples were collected from persons involved in the Health Department including doctors, health workers, Para- medical staff, security guards and sanitizing workers etc, Mohanty said.