PBB prevalence survey shows infections in barangays with no Covid cases

THE Project Balik Buhay prevalence survey has found that barangays in Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City with zero reported cases already have infection.

“Based on our scaling model, nakita nato nga kining mga barangay (that) have no active cases by PCR, kadtong ILI-SARI ( Based on our scaling model, we found that these are barangays that have no active cases by PCR, with ILI-SARI), Department of Health Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit head Dr. Junji Zuasula during the press briefing aired live over the Facebook page of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.

“However, because of the study that we have performed, we took samples from their residents; we found that even if they don’t have (COVID-19 cases), there are some residents that have IgM (active infection). They don’t have symptoms but they were exposed (to the virus); they had active exposure. Probably, they had infection,” Dr. Zuasula explained in mixed Cebuano and English. “And at the same time, there are also some residents that already been exposed (to the virus) because they have IgG (past infection).

"So didto namugna ang mao nga proyekto, gipasubay sa usa ka hypothesis aron atong makita ang kaaway hilabi na gayod kadtong dili magpakita og sintoma, mao kana ang pinakadako og challenge," DOH 7 regional director Dr. Jaime Bernadas on the PBB prevalence survey.

In Cebu City, there were around 16 barangays that had no reported cases but have IgM positive ranging from 1.1 percent to 13.3 percent. There were also barangays in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu who also had zero cases but have individuals who tested IgM positive.

Some of these individuals who were positive of IgM were also tested with Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test have been found to be COVID-19 positive, explained Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH-7 chief pathologist.

For example, Dr. Zuasula said, six individuals in Barangay Pasil who tested positive for IgM and were asymptomatic and one in Barangay Duljo, Cebu City; two in Barangay Maguikay in Mandaue City and eight in Lapu-Lapu City were also tested with PCR and were found to be COVID-19 positive.

"At the outset and pinakadako nato nga challenge mao man ang atong away sa Covid kay lagi atong kontra dili makita. The enemy was invisible, and ato lang armas nga gigamit sa mga doktor ug sa health sector mao lang ang atong clerical acumen,” Dr. Bernadas said.

He then pointed at the PCR, which can identify the virus, and the RAT, which determines the body’s response to the virus, as weapons against the invisible enemy that would unveil their presence.

Bernadas emphasized that with the PBB prevalence survey using PCR and Rapid Antibody Test gave LGUs a tool in the fight against COVID-19.

Noting that 80 percent of infected individuals are asymptomatic, Dr. Bernadas said that the prevalence survey would identify those who are actively infecting others in the barangays of the three cities.

The prevalence survey showed that Cebu City has 2.2 percent per 100 household IgM prevalence while Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City had am IgM prevalence rate of 1.4 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.

According to Zuasula, they proposed sequential lockdown to prevent second wave based on data driven as per findings of the prevalence survey.

The study provided a tool for local government units to guide them in deciding to lockdown or unlock certain communities.

However, he emphasized that quarantine status should be highly dynamic depending on the results of disease ILI-SARI surveillance.

LGUs also have to actively pursue close contact tracing efforts, implementing trace-isolate-swab-treat strategy, Dr. Zuasola said. The prevalence survey will also help find old and new cases of COVID-19.

OPAV initiated the PBB in cooperation with the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, the business sector and the DOH and they all agreed that a mass testing be conducted in the three cities.

The PBB strategic mass testing was seen as a tool to help determine when to relax quarantine restrictions and allow gradual resumption of businesses.

Secretary Dino earlier explained that the strategic mass testing provides for a “wise, scientific, evidence-based, data-driven approach to help us rise above this pandemic.”

"Kini very timely kay makita nato ang atong matag kabarangay og unsay prevalence sa maong sakit, kay just last night, the President has announced that the rest of the country will go on Modified General Community Quarantine and therefore it is a burden on the part of the local government unit to respond accordingly cause we are opening up our communities and we are opening up our businesses," said Bernadas. (PR)