DIBRUGARH, Dec 14 - A study on sero prevalence of COVID-19 virus infection in the district here was launched today in a function held at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner�s office.
This is the first time in Assam that a district administration as part of special initiative by the Deputy Commissioner, is carrying out a serological survey to assess the prevalence of SARS CoV2 antibody in the district, a release stated. The survey will be conducted by ICMR-RMRC, Dibrugarh in collaboration with the Health department and NHM, Dibrugarh and will be funded by Oil India Limited, Duliajan. It will be monitored by Dibrugarh district administration, the release stated.
Launching the survey, Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha said, �The survey will help us to get an idea of sero prevalence among the population and based on the survey results, we can prepare ourselves in an equipped manner for the next phase to fight COVID-19. We have targeted to complete the study and prepare an analysis by first week of January 2021 to know the status of Covid-19 spread in the district.�
Stating that surveys of similar kind in other States have shown the actual number of COVID-19 infected people ten times more than the COVID-19 positive cases detected by the Health department.
Dr Biswajyoti Borkotoky, RMRC-ICMR, Scientist-E termed it as a big step towards information gathering on COVID-19. �It will enable us to know the actual number of people already infected by the Covid-19 virus and help us to define how to move forward,� said Dr Borkotoky.
He stated that blood samples will be collected from people from 60 clusters of the district, out of which 30 clusters will be from rural and rest 30 from urban areas of the district. Total 1200 samples out of 15 lakh population of the district will be collected with 20 from each cluster.
AMCH Principal Dr Sanjeeb Kakoti, who was also present in the function, said that the survey is going to unveil many facts related to prevalence of cases of COVID-19 as the district has seen very little COVID-19 positive cases from tea garden community and slum areas. The survey will reflect the actual picture of infection in the district.
The occasion was also attended by Additional Deputy Commissioners � Rajib Thapa and Dipu Kr Deka; Joint Director, Health Dr Krishna Kemprai; AMCH Professor Dr Anup Kr Das; District Nodal Officer, COVID-19, Dibrugarh Dr Naba Jyoti Gogoi and other Health department officials.
