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How many people were infected with covid-19? How many developed immunity against the virus? What were the risk factors associated with the infection?
These are the questions that the research project carried out by the National Institute of Health (INS) seeks to solve the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Colombia.
To do this, a delegation of 16 INS researchers arrived in Medellín this weekend to begin the study, which will be carried out in the company of 51 members of the Medellín Me Cuida program of the Ministry of Health.
Thus, they will measure the level of antibodies developed in the Antioquia population, with a representative sample of 2,350 citizens for 10 days, in which they will reach 150 neighborhoods for blood sampling, which will be taken at random in order to reduce biases or possible errors in the measurement.
“A seroprevalence study is done to understand how many susceptibles I still have, where they are geographically located and if there is a vaccine, what would my vaccination strategy be then”, says Martha Ospina, director of the INS.
(Read also: Controversy over the actual number of ICU beds available in Medellín)
The official explained that Medellín was chosen because it is the second most populated city in Colombia, in addition to that it has already shown a decrease in the number of cases and ICU occupancy due to covid-19.
“It is important to mention that taking a sample for the study does not generate any disability, people can continue with their normal activities, and the selected households are also privileged to participate in one of the most important studies so far. So we expect a great reception from the citizens of Medellín, ”said Silvana Zapata, an INS epidemiologist and leader of the field operation in Medellín.
The One Health Genomic Laboratory of the National University also participates in the study.
“We are going to measure the antibodies and this determines how many people in our city have been infected during these eight months of the pandemic. In this way, we generate a baseline to know the real state of the immune response of Medellinians and from there determine what follows in the coming months. The National University, the National Institute of Health, the Ministry of Health of Medellín and with the departmental laboratory we made an unprecedented union, ”said Juan Pablo Hernández Ortiz, director of the One Health Genomic Laboratory.
(Also: Countdown begins for a new red alert for UCI in Antioquia)
The INS and the Ministry of Health will carry out a closing with local authorities and will deliver a partial balance of the study that is scheduled to end on October 27.
MEDELLIN
