ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the prevalence of COVID-19 during the second wave in Chitral, Pakistan.
Study design: Cross sectional prevalence study.
Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted in Health Department of Agha Khan Health Service (AKHS) Chitral from 1^st September 2020 to 31^th March 2021.
Material and Methods: This data has been collected from Agha Khan Health Service (AKHS) of Chitral during the second wave. The positive cases reported were tested using PCR. A prevalence-based study was conducted to analyze the severity of COVID-19 in Chitral during second wave. A total of 2315 suspected symptomatic individuals consented for whole blood samples and nasal swabs for viral antigen detection by PCR. RNA extraction was performed using EMAG (BIOMERIUX, France). Real-time reverse-transcription PCR was performed to detect the viral load.
Results: The second wave of COVID-19 in Chitral district did not cause any serious harm because of the vaccination and public awareness about the infection and social distancing. Overall, 15% of the population was tested positive and the peak was in months of November and December 2020. The higher rate of positivity (69%) was shown in upper rural areas of Chitral district, KP province, Pakistan More than 70% of population got vaccinated by March 2021 that is the highest number of vaccinated people in a city in Pakistan.
Conclusion: Our prevalence based data analysis indicate that the second wave of Corona virus hit the country but had limited effects in Chitral, possibly due to proper practice of preventive measures and awareness among the citizens including social distancing, good hygienic care and timely vaccination. Most of the cases reported during second wave were in the month of November/December 2020.

Key Words: Immunity, Outbreak, Prevalence, SARS-CoV-2, Vaccination.

How to cite this: Rizwan M, Naz T, Khan MB, Khan A, Khan T, Ali L. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection during the COVID-19 Second Wave in Chitral, Pakistan. Life and Science. 2022; 3(3): 99-104.  doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.240