Second sero survey to track spread of coronavirus starts soon in Pune

PUNE: The BJ Medical College in the city is set to carry out the second Covid-19 sero-surveillance study in Pune to check for herd immunity among health workers and the general population.
Pune divisional commissioner Saurabh Rao, who made the announcement, said the new study will be carried out in association with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER).

The first study was initiated by the Pune Municipal Corporation. Its results are expected by August 15.
The BJ Medical College's microbiology department, which will undertake the survey, said it is awaiting final clearances from the ethics committee. Its officials said work will start within a week.
“We are applying for ethical approvals for a study among healthcare workers. We will participate in any sero-surveillance suggested by the district administration,” an official from the college told TOI on Tuesday.
While the main focus is on frontline healthcare workers, the survey will also look for exposure levels in containment zones. High herd immunity levels in a particular area would mean reduced transmission of the virus.
The first study is expected to be completed by August 15, said Aarti Nagarkar, director of the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences at SPPU. “We did face an issue with phlebotomists. But we are nearing the end of the survey. We are currently tallying the data,” she said.
Phase 1 of the sero survey of the city covered only high-risk areas where the proportion of cases to the population was high.
Officials selected five wards — out of the 11 high-risk ones — at random. From these wards, 61 locations were identified from where data was collected of 25 individuals above the age of 18.