A sero-epidemiological study evaluating antibodies against COVID 19 infection in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding the development of the pandemic has required analysis of patterns in COVID19

reported cases, fatalities, emergency department visits, hospitalisations, and severe acute respiratory
syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. By examining evidence of earlier undiagnosed or
unreported infections, sero-surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence can offer an additional and
distinctive indicator of disease burden. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general
population to estimate the seroprevalence of COVID-19 antibodies. The study interviewed 4189 participants
aged from 10 onwards and above using a pre-designed demographic form. Two-stage cluster sampling was
done to draw participants. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were applied to analyse the
determinants of hypertension and stress. Results: The overall prevalence of antibodies among the participants
was 26.5% (95% CI; 24.7 – 27.3). Out of 4189 individuals, 1088 (25%) had tested positive for COVID-19
antibodies. The seroprevalence of COVID-19 in the S. Andaman district was found to be 40.5%, 15.4% in
north& middle Andaman and 17.1% in Nicobar participants. Ab test positive was highest amongst the
children (55.1%) and lowest in the elderly age group (21%). Participants with normal with Ab test positive
was 579 and in overweight participants 336 were Ab test positive. Conclusion: According to this study,
Andaman & Nicobar seroprevalence has increased significantly over time and regionally, although more than
one-third of the study population is sero-negative to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our estimated infection rates,
which are based on seroprevalence, considerably outnumber the actual cases of COVID-19. To inform
COVID-19 response, especially in resource-constrained areas, high-quality, standardized seroprevalence
investigations are crucial.