The United States Government has approved the release of an additional $2.1million to Nigeria for the conduct of COVID-19 household survey in Gombe, Enugu, and Nasarawa States.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which disclosed this in a statement, said the survey is expected to increase the understanding of COVID-19 transmission and burden in the three states.
The statement read: “The survey will estimate the proportion of the population in these states who have ever been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 disease. This will be accomplished by measuring the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the blood of volunteers.
“These antibodies, specialized proteins produced by the immune system to fight infection, are generated as part of the body’s response to COVID-19 and are an indication of the previous infection.
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“The survey will also estimate the proportion of people who have the disease but are not showing any symptoms, determine risk factors for infection, and measure the intra-household transmission of COVID-19.
“The survey will also estimate the prevalence of malaria and its potential relationship to SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
The CDC noted that all members of selected households would be offered the opportunity to participate in the survey.
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