Was Two-Day Serosurvey Enough For Odisha Capital?

Bhubaneswar: Doctors, experts and social activists have expressed displeasure over the two-day serological survey in Bhubaneswar conducted by ICMR’s Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) here.

Former president of Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) Dr Madhusudan Mishra said the ICMR-RMRC on August 31 and September 1 conducted a random sampling of 500 people in five of 67 wards to determine the age-wise prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies. “The antibody level could have been correctly assessed had the RMRC taken 70 per cent of the population into consideration. Random sampling in only five wards will not serve the purpose of the serosurvey,” Mishra pointed out.

Senior scientist of Institute of Life Sciences Dr Sandip Mishra said each analysis has specific rules. The serosurvey, accordingly, gives priority to random sampling.

“If the serosurvey is conducted like other surveys, the outcome of the analysis will be more accurate. The sampling number should have been higher for Bhubaneswar with a population of about 15 lakh,” he observed.

Social activist Sanjay Baliarsingh also said the meagre sampling will not be able to determine the accurate antibody level among the people. “It will be of no help to the government, which approved the fresh survey, to be able to initiate pre-emptive measures in view of the impending third wave,” he added.