50% people in Pune have developed COVID-19 antibodies: Study

A study has revealed that 50 per cent of people of Pune has developed antibodies against the SARS-CoV2 or COVID-19.

The revelation has been made barely a couple of days after Pune surpassed Mumbai to become the country’s top COVID-19 hotspot.

The research results were revealed in the first serosurvey, ‘Epidemiological and Serological Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pune City’.

The research has been funded by the Persistent Foundation.

The survey was carried out jointly by the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Pune, along with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Translational Health Science & Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, and the Christian Medical College, Vellore.

In a statement, IISER said, “The results show 51.5 per cent seroprevalence in 5 Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) areas.”

“This study was to estimate the proportion of the population in high-incidence areas who have been infected and have developed antibodies against COVID-19,” the statement added.

“The study does not provide information on immunity from subsequent infection,” the IISER further added.

Yerawada, Lohiyanagar-Kasewadi, Rastapeth-Ravivarpeth, Kasbapeth-Somwarpeth and Navipeth-Parvati were the five worst-hit wards selected for the survey.

The total population covered under the survey was 3.66 lakh.

The principal investigators were Aarti Nagarkar of SPPU and Aurnab Ghose of IISER.

In the survey, blood samples from 1,664 consenting individuals were collected from July 20-August 5.

These samples were then processed to detect the presence of IgG antibodies.

The study further indicated that there has been an extensive spread of the infection in these five wards and it was substantive across all types of dwellings.

It was further found in the study that the prevalence is lower among those who have access to independent toilets compared to those who share toilets.

There was little difference among the genders with seroprevalence of 52.8 per cent in men and 50.1 per cent in women while those above age 66 had a lower prevalence of 39.8 per cent.