By Gbenga Abulude (Politics & General Desk)
The United States Government is conducting a survey to determine the extent of COVID-19 transmission in 3 states of the federation.
The US government in a statement on Saturday said the survey which will cost $2.1m is set to determine the extent of COVID-19 transmission and burden on selected states namely Enugu, Nasarawa and Gombe states in Nigeria.
The research will help the US to understand the COVID-19 response efforts of the Government of Nigeria and its partners.
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According to the statement published on the twitter handle of the U.S Mission Nigeria, @USinNigeria, the survey will be conducted through the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
The institution is one of its partners in Nigeria, to provide technical assistance and oversee field implementation of the survey.
The survey which is part of the U.S. government’s bilateral efforts to improve the health and well-being of the Nigerian people, will be conducted between September and November with the first results of the survey expected to be released by December 2020,
The statement reads: “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. 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.
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“The survey will also estimate the prevalence of malaria and its potential relationship to SARS-CoV-2 infection. All members of selected households will be offered the opportunity to participate in the survey.
“If they agree, participants will answer a brief questionnaire, have their blood drawn and tested for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies, and receive a nasal swab and oropharyngeal swab to test for acute COVID-19. They will also have a rapid malaria test and receive malaria treatment if the test is positive.”
