Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is planning to conduct a serological survey (serosurvey) of children, to gauge the prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the 0-18 age group. So far, 44,152 children in this range have contracted coronavirus since the pandemic outbreak. The anticipated third wave of Covid-19, likely to arrive in July holds out the possibility of infecting the paediatric population. Civic officials said the aim of the serosurvey would be to learn how many of those under 18 years of age have developed antibodies.
Dr Ramesh Bharmal, dean, BYL Nair Hospital, said it would be the first time that children were going to be included in the survey. Sample collection will be undertaken in the last week of June.
“Currently we have not decided the sample size for the survey, but for now, we have received in-principle approval for it. We are collating data and based on that, data sample size will be decided. We will be selecting those wards of the city where more children were affected,” said an official.
Members of the state paediatric taskforce said a serosurvey is done to determine whether or not the person has an infection and if they have developed antibodies. A recent serosurvey conducted by the ICMR and AIIMS revealed prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 25 per cent of the children studied. “The serosurvey will help us understand about herd immunity in children. Moreover, it will help formulate a strategy to tackle the third wave, in which children are likely to be impacted,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Central government will also conduct a fourth national serosurvey to monitor the spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, and prepare for a potential third wave of infections.
The survey - to be led by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) - will take place in June, with 28,000 blood samples - 14,000 each from adults and children over the age of six - to be analysed. Apart from focusing on children, it will also focus on the rural areas of the country.
