MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched its fifth Sero survey in Mumbai ahead of the third Covid-19 wave.
BMC officials said during the pandemic, Sero prevalence studies are conducted to get evidence of past exposure to the virus and to know the spread of infection in the population.
The BMC has carried out four such Sero surveys in Mumbai since March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began.
“So far, four surveys have been conducted by BMC in Mumbai. The first and second Sero surveys were done in July and August 2020 in three wards. The third survey was conducted in March 2021 in 24 wards and the fourth survey was conducted from May to June 2021 in the pediatric age group,” said a senior civic official.
The official said that in view of the anticipated third wave and the ongoing Covid vaccination drive which is underway, it was important to know the antibody levels in the community.
“BMC has undertaken Sero survey 5 with the help of IDFC Institute and ATE Chandra Foundation, in all 24 wards through municipal dispensaries for slum areas, which has started from Thursday. For the non-slum areas, this survey will be conducted in clinics of selected General Medical Practitioners (GPS). Around 8,000 random samples will be taken in the survey and tested at the Sion Hospital,” the official said.
