We still need participants to monitor the development of herd immunity
The next seroprevalence study of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Geneva will take place in May, by invitation of randomly selected individuals, based on a representative sample of the canton's population.
This will provide a new snapshot of herd immunity in the Geneva population. The quality and reliability of epidemiological studies to understand the evolution of a disease in a given population depends on recruiting participants and then maintaining their active participation over time. As Pre Silvia Stringhini, head of the Population Epidemiology Unit at the HUG's SMPR, reminded us on programme CFQDprogramme on Radio Télévision Suisse.
After reviewing the current epidemic situation and the means of prevention, she explained the importance of continuing to monitor the development of the pandemic and the consequences of the health crisis for the Geneva population, in a context where the virus has not disappeared.
To this end, serological tests are being used to determine the proportion of the population that has already been in contact with the virus (even if asymptomatically). In addition, Pre Silvia Stringhini points out that follow-up questionnaires can be used to go further and measure the impact of the health crisis on several dimensions of health, over the longer or shorter term.
In addition to COVID-19, epidemiological studies aim to identify the socio-economic factors that influence the prevalence of disease in a given population, from early childhood to adulthood and beyond. "There is no single determining indicator; we are talking about context and combinations of factors that will explain the mechanisms of transmission, distribution and evolution of a disease ", emphasises the epidemiologist.
Thanks to its digital platform, Specchio-COVID19, the Population Epidemiology Unit can monitor and interact more directly with people who are involved in its research, whether it's studies on COVID-19 or research into non-communicable diseases.
