In a sero survey conducted in Bengaluru Urban in the month of September, it was reported that 22 per cent of the people who participated in the sero survey had pre-existing antibodies which were indicative of past infections and 9.2 % had active infections. Overall, the Covid-19 prevalence rate in the city is at 29.8%.
The serosurvey conducted was covered by 3,617 samples. The BBMP’s Western zone had the most prevalent with 45.6%, leading it is South zone with 38.9 %. In the West Zone, 35.1 % had antibodies, and 13.2 % active cases. In the South Zone, from the 422 samples, 29.9 % had antibodies and 10.7 % with active cases.
Dr. Manoranjan Hegde, Health Officer from the West Zone of BBMP, “The West Zone is a thickly populated area with a number of slums. Right from the start of the pandemic, the West Zone has been reporting the most cases among all eight zones. Earlier, Chamarajpet and Chickpet were problematic areas. Now, most cases are being reported from Malleswaram, Rajajinagar and Mahalakshmipuram. A majority of the primary contacts of Covid patients have tested positive. Tracing and testing are the only strategies for containment.”
The Special Officer for South Zone, Munish Moudgil stated, “South zone cases peaked in July and August, that is why a higher percentage of people were found to have antibodies in the serosurvey. The number of cases in Mahadevapura is rising now when previously South and West zones were peaking. Contact tracing has to be strengthened and the wearing of masks should be followed diligently.” The BBMP Covid bulletin, from November 4 records, from the past 10 days, 19 % of the cases come from Mahadevapura zone, followed by South and East with 15 % cases.
