New Delhi: A multi-centric cross-sectional study spanning five different geographical regions, has been initiated by the Centre to estimate the seroprevalence of dengue virus infection in the country, the government said.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda in a reply to the Lok Sabha has said that the study is being coordinated by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai.
"A multi-centric study has been initiated to estimate the seroprevalence of dengue virus infection in India with the main objective to establish age-specific seroprevalence of dengue virus infection in different geographic regions of states.
"This in turn, will enable the government to take a policy decision on introduction of dengue vaccine into the country," Nadda said. Three states would be selected in each region by simple random sampling, in three different age groups: 5-8 years, 9- 17 years, and 18-45 years. "A total of 10,000 samples will be collected from all age groups and will be tested for dengue IgG antibodies," Nadda said. The five participating regions are: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan; Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradsh; Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka; Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha; and, Assam, Meghalaya and Dibrugarh.