By Hamid Khan Wazir
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The “Sero-epidemiological Survey for COVID-19” has been started in Islamabad, which would help the healthcare institutions to know and understand about the actual prevalence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disease in the Federal Capital.
The survey was launched on Tuesday by the National Institute of Health (NIH) through its Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) in collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, Local Government Islamabad and Health Services Academy (HSA).
The study would also provide an estimation about the number of cases in different areas of Islamabad.
The main objective of the survey is to evaluate risk factor for COVID-19 infection by comparing the exposures among infected and non-infected persons.
Before the initiation of the survey, NIH conducted a training session of field interviewers and technicians to conduct the survey.
During the field survey, along with the epidemiological information, the NIH team would also collect the blood samples and throat swabs for testing and also conduct risk communication sessions among the general public about COVID-19.
On this occasion Maj. Gen. Aamer Ikram, Executive Director of NIH elaborated that through this survey, MoNHSR&C would be able to determine the extent of infection in the general population and calculation of age-specific attack rates to identify the fraction of asymptomatic or subclinical infections.
Moreover, the district government also has shown its keen interest and full support with the survey which would help in identifying the disease burden and plan further strategies for the public.
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