‘Community transmission localised in Kashmir so far’

The result of the covid-19 tests of pregnant women in Kashmir has so far indicated that the “community transmission is still localized and confined mostly to red zones only”.

According to the protocols, all pregnant women have to betreated as “covid-19 probable” and those from red zones in thirty-fourth weekof their pregnancy, tested aggressively.

However, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, the authorities havedecided to take up the sample randomly from the expecting women residingoutside of those risk zones.

The district has so far tested 526 pregnant women, out ofwhich the samples of only five have returned positive. “We are taking samplesof woman with 34 weeks or more pregnancy both from red zones as well as otherareas,” a health official told Greater Kashmir.

He said that the samples of pregnant women either with travel or contact history are also being taken for testing. “The reports of 434 have been received, and all but five are negative,” a health official said He said the reports of remaining are expected soon.

“So far twopregnant women who had tested positive for covid19 have recovered and threeothers who had normal deliveries are being treated in isolation facilities,” ahealth official added.

DeputyCommissioner Anantnag Bashir Ahmad Dar said their target was to test everyexpecting woman who is in thirty-fourth week of her pregnancy. “We have notconfined the target to red zones or other high-risk factors only, but areslowly and gradually widening the range,” the DC said.

He said thatthis would give them a clear representation of the status of pregnant women,who according to experts are more prone to this virus.

A seniorepidemiologist termed the statistics from Anantnag as an encouraging sign. “Asthe samples have been taken randomly from other areas in addition to thehigh-risk ones, it gives a glimmer of hope that the community transmissionmight not have happened as of now,” he said.

However, theepidemiologist suggested for a broad-based epidemiological study to know theexact prevalence of Covid-19 in Kashmir.

“Thegovernment should consider taking at least 6000 samples all over the valleywith various variables like pregnant women, aged, children, newborn, youths,labourers,  health workers, otherprofessions, high-risk areas, low-risk areas, contacts, travel history, notravel history, people with underline diseases, hale and hearty ones, etc. fora research study,” he said.

Dr RoufHussain Rather, a public health expert at red zone surveillance unit DivisionalControl Room Srinagar and senior resident GMC- Srinagar believes that testingpregnant women of red zones was important to ensure their proper treatment.

“All thepregnant women from red zones need to be tested for Covid-19 so thatunnecessary confusion is prevented during their delivery,” Hussain said.

Baramuladistrict has so far tested highest 580 pregnant women for Covid-19, followed byBudgam 641, Anantnag 526 and Bandipora 496. Srinagar, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Kupwara, and Shopian have takensamples of 314, 196, 138, 132, 88 and 50 pregnant women respectively.

However, thesamples have been mostly collected from the red zone areas.  Anantnag, which features on third in thenumber of tests for pregnant women, has the least red zone areas.

According toofficial figures, the district  has tendesignated red zones, the largest being Nowgam and its peripheral villages inShangus Tehsil – Pushroo, Phulu, Sombran, Kootihar, Issu and Telwani with apopulation of more than 20,000 souls.

The other redzones, include Kharpora in Larnoo-Kokernag; Hillar Arama in Kokernag;Achwara-Kanelwan in Bijbehara;  PadinBatpora in Sallar- Pahlagam; Khudipora-Kheram in Bijbehara and Khanday-Mohalaand Radiant colony in Batengoo Anantnag; Check-I- Wangund in Qazigund; Kadiporalocality in Anantnag town.