Kerala Has Lowest COVID-19 Seroprevalence: ICMR Sero Survey

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Wendnesday released statewise seroprevalence data points to more than 70 percent of the country's population has developed protective antibodies against the COVID-19 virus.

This is part of ICMR's 4th sero survey in India.

Data from the survey released last month had found that India has an overall seroprevelance of 67.6 percent.

While Madhya Pradesh was found to have the highest seroprevalence at 79 percent, Kerala–the state which currently has the highest caseload of COVID in the country–has the least (44.4 percent).

The new data from the survey breaks down the seroprevelance of 20 states in the country.

What the Data Says

Here's a statewise break up of COVID seroprevelance found by the survey.

• Madhya Pradesh - 79 percent

• Rajasthan - 76.2 percent

• Bihar - 75.9 percent

• Gujarat - 75.3 percent

• Chhattisgarh - 74.6 percent

• Uttarakhand - 73.1 percent

• Uttar Pradesh - 71 percent

• Andhra Pradesh -70.2 percent

• Karnataka - 69.8 percent

• Tamil Nadu - 69.2 percent

• Odisha - 68.1 percent

• Punjab - 66.5

• Telangana - 63.1

• Jammu and Kashmir – 63

• Himachal Pradesh – 62

• Jharkand – 61

• West Bengal – 60.9

• Haryana – 60.1

• Maharashtra – 58

• Assam – 50.3

• Kerala – 44.4

This data, however, may be slightly skewed, reported.

"The extrapolation was based on 70 districts in 21 States, which were part of three previous rounds of the serosurvey. The districts were chosen based on population and so some States have more places represented."

Samiran panda, Head of Epidiemology, ICMR as quoted by the Hindu

For this reason, the centre has also asked the respective states and UTs to initiate sero serveys within their own states in consultation with ICMR, for more extensive district-wise.

What the Data Tells Us About the COVID Surge in Kerala

Seroprevalence refers to the formation of antibodies against a pathogen as a result of vaccination or a natural infection.

This seroprevalence data may be the key to understanding the surge in COVID-19 cases that Kerala continues to see despite the rate of infection slowing down in the rest of the country.

Considering Kerala has a higher vaccine coverage than the national average, the data would imply that people in Kerala are not developing antibodies sufficiently after natural infections.

The 4th Sero Survey by ICMR

The 4th nationwide seroprevalence survey was conducted between June and July in 70 district, of 20 states.

It was conducted on those over the age of 6, and involved 28,975 people of the general population and 7252 healthcare workers.

Data released by the ICMR last week showed that the seroprevalence in rural areas (66.7 percent) is lower than those in urban areas (69.6 percent).

Moreover, the seroprevelance in males (65.8 percent) was found to be slightly lower than that of females (69.2).

(Written with inputs from Hindustan Times and the Hindu.)