Daily Mains Articles

Daily Prelims Booster

Why in news?

Recently, Eastern equine encephalitis is rare in the US and only few cases are reported every year 30 per cent of which could turn fatal and may have severe symptoms.

About EEE

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), commonly called Triple E or sleeping sickness (not to be confused with African trypanosomiasis), is a disease caused by a zoonotic mosquito vectored Togavirus that is present in North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">EEE was first recognized in Massachusetts, United States, in 1831, when 75 horses died mysteriously of viral encephalitis. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Epizootics in horses have continued to occur regularly in the United States. It can also be identified in donkeys and zebras. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Due to the rarity of the disease, its occurrence can cause economic impact beyond the cost of horses and poultry. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">EEE is found today in the eastern part of the United States and is often associated with coastal plains. It can most commonly be found in East Coast and Gulf Coast states. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">In Florida, about one to two human cases are reported a year, although over 60 cases of equine encephalitis are reported. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">In years in which conditions are favorable for the disease, the number of equine cases is over 200.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Diagnosing equine encephalitis is challenging because many of the symptoms are shared with other illnesses and patients can be asymptomatic. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Confirmations may require a sample of cerebral spinal fluid or brain tissue, although CT scans and MRI scans are used to detect encephalitis. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">This could be an indication that the need to test for EEE is necessary. If a biopsy of the cerebral spinal fluid is taken, it is sent to a specialized laboratory for testing.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is closely related to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and western equine encephalitis virus.</li>
</ul>

<img alt="" src="https://i.filecdn.in/586llta/image-1698738987145.png" />

Symptoms of eastern equine encephalitis

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Starting from high fever, headache, chills and nausea, it can progress to seizures, disorientation, and coma. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The survivors may face neurological issues. People in the age group of above 50 and under 15 are said to be more at risk.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Not all people who contract the virus show symptoms and many people infected with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus remain asymptomatic. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The incubation period for those who display symptoms ranges from 4 to 10 days.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It is the virus&#39;s impact on neurological health that&#39;s more concerning and can also leave an imprint even after recovery.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">As many as a third of people with the disease die and death usually occurs from 2 to 10 days after symptom onset. </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Even after recovery, people may face long-term physical or mental impairments ranging from mild brain dysfunction to severe intellectual impairment, personality disorders, seizures, paralysis, and cranial nerve dysfunction.</li>
</ul>

Treatment for eastern equine encephalitis

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">There are no vaccines available to treat the disease. Precautionary measures are important. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It has been advised to prevent mosquito bites and follow measures such as stopping mosquito breeding, applying repellents, and wearing full-sleeved shirt and full pants that cover the body. </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">It is important to empty containers like flower pots, and uncovered water storage, as mosquitoes breed in such areas, to prevent mosquito breeding.</li>
</ul>

<img alt="" src="https://i.filecdn.in/586llta/image-20231031132606-2-1698738967276.jpeg" />

Source: <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/rare-mosquito-borne-illness-eastern-equine-encephalitis-reported-in-alabama-and-new-york-causes-one-death-101692769324329.html" style="color:#9b4a06; text-decoration:underline">https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/rare-mosquito-borne-illness-eastern-equine-encephalitis-reported-in-alabama-and-new-york-causes-one-death-101692769324329.html</a>

EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS

Why in news?

Recently, Indian Army and Indian Air Force contingent comprising 120 personnel departed for Kazakhstan today to take part in the 7th edition of Joint Military &lsquo;Exercise KAZIND-2023&rsquo;. The Exercise will be conducted at Otar, Kazakhstan from 30th October to 11th November 2023.

More on news:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Indian Army contingent comprises 90 personnel led by a Battalion from the DOGRA Regiment. The Kazakhstan contingent is mainly represented by personnel from Regional Command South of Kazakh Ground Forces. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">30 personnel of Air Force from both sides will also participate in the current edition of the Exercise alongside the Army contingents.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The Joint Exercise between India and Kazakhstan was instituted as &lsquo;Exercise PRABAL DOSTYK&rsquo; in the year 2016. After the second edition, the Exercise was upgraded to a company-level exercise and renamed as &lsquo;Exercise KAZIND&rsquo;. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The Exercise has been further upgraded as a Bi-service Exercise this year by including the Air Force component.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">In this edition of the Exercise, both sides will practice conduct of Counter Terrorism operations in a sub-conventional environment under United Nations mandate. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The contingents will jointly rehearse various tactical drills to include Raid, Search and Destroy Operations, Small Team Insertion and Extraction Operations etc. The scope of the Exercise also includes conduct of Counter Unmanned Aerial System Operations.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">&lsquo;Exercise KAZIND-2023&rsquo; will provide an opportunity for both sides to gain an insight into the tactics, battle drills and procedures of each other, which is a prerequisite while operating under the ambit of the United Nations. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The joint training will develop the necessary skills, resilience and coordination to conduct joint military operations in Semi-Urban and Urban environments.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Both sides will get a chance to practice drills on a wide spectrum of combat skills and mutually learn from each other. </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">The Exercise will provide an opportunity for the contingents to exchange views and share the best practices. &lsquo;Exercise KAZIND-2023&rsquo; will further strengthen the bond between the two armies.</li>
</ul>

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Source: <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1972735" style="color:#9b4a06; text-decoration:underline">https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1972735</a>

EXERCISE KAZIND-2023

Why in news?

Recently, Online malpractices by airlines, travel portals are &ldquo;cybercrime&rdquo;, says Consumer Affairs Secretary; Ministry to examine complaints about paid airline seats, denied boarding, delays in refunds

What are dark patterns?

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">A dark pattern refers to a design or user interface technique that is intentionally crafted to manipulate or deceive users into making certain choices or taking specific actions that may not be in their best interest. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It is a deceptive practice employed to influence user behaviour in a way that benefits the company implementing it.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">For example, a common dark pattern is the &ldquo;sneak into basket&rdquo; technique used on e-commerce websites. When a user adds an item to their shopping cart, a dark pattern may be employed by automatically adding additional items to the cart without the user&rsquo;s explicit consent or clear notification. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">This can mislead the user into purchasing more items than they intended, potentially increasing the company&rsquo;s sales but compromising the user&rsquo;s autonomy and decision-making. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Similarly, many of us have encountered pop-up requests for our personal information, where we have found it difficult to locate the &lsquo;reject&rsquo; link. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It is challenging for customers to decline the acquisition of their personal data if they want to continue on a website because the choice to depart or reject is so subtly positioned. </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">By using such dark patterns, digital platforms infringe on the consumer&rsquo;s right to full transparency of the services they use and control over their browsing experience.</li>
</ul>

What are the different types?

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Businesses are using various techniques and deceptive patterns to downgrade the user experience to their own advantage. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Some of the common practices are creating a sense of urgency or scarcity while online shopping; </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Confirm shaming wherein a consumer is criticised for not conforming to a particular belief; </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The forced action of signing up for a service to access content; </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Advertising one product or service but delivering another, often of lower quality, known as the bait and switch technique; </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Hidden costs where the bill is revised or costs are added when the consumer is almost certain to purchase the product; </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Disguised advertisements of a particular product by way of depicting it as news and many more. </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Such deceptive patterns that manipulate consumer choice and impede their right to be well-informed constitute unfair practices that are prohibited under the Consumer Protection Act 2019.</li>
</ul>

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Source: <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dark-pattern-sales-deemed-cybercrime/article67466689.ece" style="color:#9b4a06; text-decoration:underline">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dark-pattern-sales-deemed-cybercrime/article67466689.ece</a>

DARK PATTERNS

Why in news?

Recently, a North Delhi-based advocate became the latest victim of the &lsquo;SIM swap scam&rsquo; in the national capital after she received three missed calls from unknown numbers and lost money from her bank account.

What is the SIM swap scam?

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">With the advancement in banking services, easy payment applications and seamless transactions on smartphones, cybercriminals are misusing the link between physical SIM cards and banking applications. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">All banking applications are linked to phone numbers which help in generating OTPs (to authenticate transactions) or receiving important bank-related messages.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">In the SIM swap scam, fraudsters first take personal details such as phone numbers, bank account details, and addresses with the help of phishing or vishing. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Phishing is a technique in which scamsters send malware links to victims through mail or messages. Once the link is opened, the malware steals all of the victim&rsquo;s personal information.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">After receiving the personal information, fraudsters visit the mobile operator&rsquo;s retail outlet, posing as the victim with a forged ID proof and report a fake theft of the victim&rsquo;s SIM card and/or mobile phone, according to an advisory by the HDFC bank.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">By doing this, they attain a duplicate SIM. Notably, scamsters can get a duplicate SIM even when the original is working as they reported a theft of the original SIM card. All the activation messages and details go to the scamster and not the victim.</li>
</ul>

How do fraudsters withdraw money from victims&rsquo; bank accounts?

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">After receiving the victim&rsquo;s personal details such as banking account numbers and passwords through phishing attacks, scamsters use the information to log into bank portals and generate OTPs to withdraw money.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">As they have the victim&rsquo;s SIM card access, all OTPs go to scamsters which they use to authenticate the transactions and steal the money.</li>
</ul>

One can avoid getting scammed by following certain steps:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">They should be vigilant of vishing or phishing attacks.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">They must not neglect messages or switch off their phones after receiving multiple missed calls. They should enquire with the mobile operator immediately if such an activity takes place on the phone.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">One should change bank account passwords regularly.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">They should register for regular SMS as well as e-mail alerts for their banking transactions.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">In case of fraud, one must immediately get in touch with bank authorities to have their account blocked and avoid further fraud.</li>
</ul>

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Source: <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/sim-sawp-scam-9003615/" style="color:#9b4a06; text-decoration:underline">https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/sim-sawp-scam-9003615/</a>

SIM SWAP SCAM

Why in news?

Recently, Indian farmers have faced consistent losses of Bt cotton crops due to pink bollworm attacks since the mid-2000s, when scientists found that the insect had become resistant to the genetically modified variety of cotton.

About

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The pink bollworm is an insect known for being a pest in cotton farming. The adult is a small, thin, gray moth with fringed wings. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The larva is a dull white caterpillar with eight pairs of legs with conspicuous pink banding along its dorsum. The larva reaches one half inch in length.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The female moth lays eggs in a cotton boll, and when the larvae emerge from the eggs, they inflict damage through feeding. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">They chew through the cotton lint to feed on the seeds. Since cotton is used for both fiber and seed oil, the damage is twofold. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Their disruption of the protective tissue around the boll is a portal of entry for other insects and fungi.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The pink bollworm is native to Asia, but has become an invasive species in most of the world&#39;s cotton-growing regions.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">In parts of India, the pink bollworm is now resistant to first generation transgenic Bt cotton (Bollgard cotton) that expresses a single Bt gene (Cry1Ac).</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Populations of bollworms are controlled with mating disruption, chemicals, and releases of sterile males which mate with the females but fail to fertilize their eggs.</li>
</ul>

Bt cotton

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Bt cotton has been genetically modified by the insertion of one or more genes from a common soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis.&nbsp; </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">These genes encode for the production of insecticidal proteins, and thus, genetically transformed plants produce one or more toxins as they grow.&nbsp; </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The genes that have been inserted into cotton produce toxins that are limited in activity almost exclusively to caterpillar pests (Lepidoptera).&nbsp; </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">However, other strains of Bacillus thuringiensis have genes that encode for toxins with insecticidal activity on some beetles (Coleoptera) and flies (Diptera).&nbsp; </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Some of these genes are being used to control pests in other crops, such as corn.</li>
</ul>

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Source: <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/cotton-curse-how-pink-bollworm-evolved-to-be-the-biggest-threat-for-bt-cotton-92458" style="color:#9b4a06; text-decoration:underline">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/cotton-curse-how-pink-bollworm-evolved-to-be-the-biggest-threat-for-bt-cotton-92458</a>

PINK BOLLWORM

Why in news?

Recently, Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute have found that sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans, a new genus and species of bacteria in a hot spring in Aravali in Ratnagiri district, has the ability to produce hydrogen gas as a byproduct of its metabolism.

More on news:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">A new genus of anaerobic lignocellulose-degrading bacteria found in the hot spring of Aravali, located in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra which has the ability to produce hydrogen gas as a byproduct of its metabolism could be a source of clean and renewable energy.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans is part of the Lachnospiraceae family, whose members are known as the most effective polysaccharide degraders due to their capacity to synthesise free or complicated hydrolytic enzymes. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The structural elements of lignocellulosic agricultural wastes, cellulose and xylan, can be broken down by this bacterium.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">A collection of thermostable hydrolytic enzymes reported in Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans makes the bacterium significant for use in industry. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The researchers also discovered that the bacteria can grow optimally at high temperatures of 45&ndash;50&deg;C and an alkaline pH of 8.0. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The bacteria may be a candidate for biohydrogen generation from agricultural leftovers in accordance with waste-to-energy legislation in India.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The scientists found that the bacterium used the hexose and pentose sugars released during the hydrolysis of complex polymers like cellulose and xylan to make large amounts of hydrogen gas and byproducts including acetic acid, formic acid, and ethanol. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It is known that very few bacteria can use the sugars hexose and pentose at the same time. Due to this characteristic, the bacterium is a crucial strain for the industrial generation of biofuels. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Additionally, genomic research uncovered that new bacterium possess a special metabolic route for converting a variety of simple and complex substrates into hydrogen and ethanol.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Discovery of Sporanaerobium hydrogeniformans opens up new directions for investigation into the production of biohydrogen gas as a long-term energy source. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Additionally, it emphasises the value of researching microbes in hostile habitats like hot springs, where rare and important species might be found.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">The scientists are hoping that more research on this bacterium will lead to the creation of innovative and effective processes for producing biohydrogen gas, which could decrease reliance on fossil fuels.</li>
</ul>

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Source: <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1969085" style="color:#9b4a06; text-decoration:underline">https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1969085</a>

SPORANAEROBIUM HYDROGENIFORMANS

Why in news?

Kerala will intensify the disease surveillance activities and maintain vigil against Nipah across the State as Nipah virus antibodies have been detected in bats in Wayanad as well in Indian Council of Medical Research&rsquo;s bat surveillance studies, Health Minister Veena George said on October 25.

About Nipah Virus

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Nipah virus (NiV) was first discovered in 1999 following an outbreak of disease in pigs and people in Malaysia and Singapore. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The virus has been shown to spread from person-to-person in these outbreaks, raising concerns about the potential for NiV to cause a global pandemic.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">NiV is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It is a zoonotic virus, meaning that it initially spreads between animals and people. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The animal host reservoir for NiV is the fruit bat (genus Pteropus), also known as the flying fox.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Given that NiV is genetically related to Hendra virus, another henipavirus known to be carried by bats, bat species were quickly singled out for investigation and flying foxes were subsequently identified as the reservoir.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Infected fruit bats can spread the disease to people or other animals, such as pigs. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">People can become infected if they have close contact with an infected animal or its body fluids (such as saliva or urine)&mdash;this initial spread from an animal to a person is known as a spillover event. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Once it spreads to people, person-to-person spread of NiV can also occur.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">The symptoms of NiV infection range from mild to severe, with death occurring in 40%&ndash;70% of those infected in documented outbreaks between 1998 and 2018.</li>
</ul>

What are signs and symptoms?

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It usually presents as fever and swelling of the brain called encephalitis.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Headache.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Breathing difficulties.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Cough and sore throat.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Diarrhoea.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Vomiting.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Muscle pain and severe weakness.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">In extreme cases, disorientation and seizures</li>
</ul>

How is Nipah transmitted?

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The first outbreaks of the Nipah virus among humans was reported from Malaysia (1998) and Singapore (1999). </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The virus takes its name from the village in Malaysia where the person in whom the virus was first isolated died of the disease.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The transmission from animals happens mainly through consumption of contaminated food. According to the CDC, transmission can happen due to &ldquo;consumption of raw date palm sap or fruit that has been contaminated with saliva or urine from infected bats. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Some cases of NiV [Nipah] infection have also been reported among people who climb trees where bats often roost.&rdquo;</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The animal host reservoir for this virus is known to be the fruit bat, commonly known as flying fox. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Fruit bats are known to transmit this virus to other animals like pigs, and also dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Humans get infected mainly through direct contact with these animals, or through consumption of food contaminated by saliva or urine of these infected animals. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">But human-to-human transmission is also considered possible. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The CD says &ldquo;person-to-person spread of NiV is regularly reported in Bangladesh and India. This is most commonly seen in the families and caregivers of NiV-infected patients, and in healthcare settings.&rdquo;</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Since it was first identified in 1998-99, there have been multiple outbreaks of the Nipah virus, all of them in South and Southeast Asian nations. In Bangladesh, there have been at least 10 outbreaks since 2001.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">In India, West Bengal had seen an outbreak in 2001 and 2007, while Kerala had reported several cases in 2018, and isolated cases in 2019 and 2021.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">The Nipah virus is known to spread far more slowly than SARS-CoV-2. However, it is its ability to kill that is the biggest concern. </li>
</ul>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="" src="https://i.filecdn.in/586llta/image-20231027111609-5-1698385569713.png" />

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How is nipah virus diagnosed?

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">A real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test can confirm nipah virus through nasal or throat swabs, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), urine and blood samples. </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Doctors can diagnose the infection in its later stages or after recovery by testing your blood for certain antibodies through the ELISA test.</li>
</ul>

How is nipah virus treated?

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">There are no antivirals and there is only symptomatic management. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Options are drinking water, resting, using medication to control nausea or vomitting, inhalers and nebulisers for breathing and anti-seizure medication in extreme cases are the present options. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Researchers are studying using monoclonal antibody treatment.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">There&rsquo;s no vaccine or medications to cure nipah virus.</li>
</ul>

<img alt="https://d16qt3wv6xm098.cloudfront.net/N4JvRvzMQDuPOjyQcjxv5eJ6Rj6WLsVu/_.png" src="https://d16qt3wv6xm098.cloudfront.net/N4JvRvzMQDuPOjyQcjxv5eJ6Rj6WLsVu/_.png" style="width:900px; height:560px" />

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Source: <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nipah-virus-antibodies-detected-in-bats-in-wayanad/article67457803.ece" style="color:#9b4a06; text-decoration:underline">https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nipah-virus-antibodies-detected-in-bats-in-wayanad/article67457803.ece</a>

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NIPAH VIRUS

Why in news?

Recently, Dengue and other vector-borne diseases which have afflicted one in four Indian families with one or more members over the last three years, according to a survey by social media platform Local Circles, have seen a fresh upsurge in recent weeks across states.

More on news:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">In India, the number of months suitable for dengue transmission by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes has risen to 5.6 months each year.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Dengue spreads through the bite of two mosquitoes- Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">A 2022 study published in the journal GeoHealth projected how the distribution of these mosquitoes will evolve with climate change. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Currently, Aedes aegypti is prevalent in the southern peninsula, eastern coastline, north-eastern states and the northern plains. Aedes albopictus dominates the eastern and western coastlines, north-eastern states and the lower Himalayas.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The study projected &ldquo;expansion of Aedes aegypti in the hot arid regions of the Thar Desert and Aedes albopictus in cold upper Himalayas as a result of future climatic changes.&rdquo;</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The emergence of dengue in three states offers an understanding of how climate change is driving up not just cases but also widening the geographical spread of the disease.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Bihar and Odisha are among the eight states in India scoring in the highly vulnerable category in the Climate Vulnerability Index, according to the Council on Energy, Environment and Water.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K) falls in the moderately vulnerable category. But temperatures there have never been favourable for the spread of dengue until recently. J&amp;K had not recorded any dengue cases till 2006. </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Temperature and humidity levels in Kashmir are not conducive to the spread of dengue. Jammu had a similar story, but rising temperatures have made it the hub for dengue in J&amp;K. </li>
</ul>

<img alt="" src="https://i.filecdn.in/586llta/image-1698385066382.png" />

About Dengue:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Dengue (DENG-gey) fever is a mosquito-borne illness that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Mild dengue fever causes a high fever and flu-like symptoms. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The severe form of dengue fever, also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause serious bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and death.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Millions of cases of dengue infection occur worldwide each year. Dengue fever is most common in Southeast Asia, the western Pacific islands, Latin America and Africa. But the disease has been spreading to new areas, including local outbreaks in Europe and southern parts of the United States.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Researchers are working on dengue fever vaccines. For now, in areas where dengue fever is common, the best ways to prevent infection are to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take steps to reduce the mosquito population.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="" src="https://i.filecdn.in/586llta/image-1698385035028.png" />

Symptoms:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Many people experience no signs or symptoms of a dengue infection.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">When symptoms do occur, they may be mistaken for other illnesses &mdash; such as the flu &mdash; and usually begin four to 10 days after you are bitten by an infected mosquito.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Dengue fever causes a high fever -104 F (40 C) and any of the following signs and symptoms:
	<ul style="list-style-type:circle">
		<li style="margin-left:56px">Headache</li>
		<li style="margin-left:56px">Muscle, bone or joint pain</li>
		<li style="margin-left:56px">Nausea</li>
		<li style="margin-left:56px">Vomiting</li>
		<li style="margin-left:56px">Pain behind the eyes</li>
		<li style="margin-left:56px">Swollen glands</li>
		<li style="margin-left:56px">Rash</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Most people recover within a week or so. In some cases, symptoms worsen and can become life-threatening. This is called severe dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.</li>
</ul>

Causes:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Dengue fever is caused by any one of four types of dengue viruses. dengue fever from being around an infected person. Instead, dengue fever is spread through mosquito bites.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The two types of mosquitoes that most often spread the dengue viruses are common both in and around human lodgings. When a mosquito bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mosquito. Then, when the infected mosquito bites another person, the virus enters that person&#39;s bloodstream and causes an infection.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">After you&#39;ve recovered from dengue fever, you have long-term immunity to the type of virus that infected you but not to the other three dengue fever virus types. This means you can be infected again in the future by one of the other three virus types. Your risk of developing severe dengue fever increases if you get dengue fever a second, third or fourth time.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img alt="" src="https://i.filecdn.in/586llta/image-20231027110628-3-1698384989025.png" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<img alt="" src="https://i.filecdn.in/586llta/image-1698385013370.png" /> 
Complications:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Severe dengue fever can cause internal bleeding and organ damage. Blood pressure can drop to dangerous levels, causing shock. In some cases, severe dengue fever can lead to death.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Women who get dengue fever during pregnancy may be able to spread the virus to the baby during childbirth. Additionally, babies of women who get dengue fever during pregnancy have a higher risk of pre-term birth, low birth weight or fetal distress.</li>
</ul>

Vaccine:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">In areas of the world where dengue fever is common, one dengue fever vaccine (Dengvaxia) is approved for people ages 9 to 45 who have already had dengue fever at least once. The vaccine is given in three doses over the course of 12 months.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The vaccine is approved only for people who have a documented history of dengue fever or who have had a blood test that shows previous infection with one of the dengue viruses called seropositivity. In people who have not had dengue fever in the past (seronegative), receiving the vaccine appears to increase the risk of severe dengue fever and hospitalization due to dengue fever in the future.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Dengvaxia is not available for travelers or for people who live in the continental United States. But in 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine for people ages 9 to 16 who have had dengue fever in the past and who live in the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands where dengue fever is common.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Source: <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/dengue-upsurge-reported-in-states-92432#:~:text=The%20following%20number%20of%20states,cases%2C%20along%20with%20two%20deaths" style="color:#9b4a06; text-decoration:underline">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/dengue-upsurge-reported-in-states-92432#:~:text=The%20following%20number%20of%20states,cases%2C%20along%20with%20two%20deaths</a>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

DENGUE

Why in news?

Recently, several state governments requested schools to seek parental consent for the creation of a new student identity card known as the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR). This is part of the &lsquo;One nation, One Student ID&rsquo; initiative of the Union government, stemming from the new National Education Policy of 2020.

About APAAR:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">APAAR, which stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, is envisioned as a special ID system for all students in India, starting from childhood. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Under the initiative, each student would get a lifelong APAAR ID, making it easy for the learners, schools, and governments to track academic progress from pre-primary education to higher education.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">APAAR would also serve as a gateway to Digilocker, a digital system where students can store their important documents and achievements, such as exam results and report cards, digitally, making it easier to access and use them in the future for, say, pursuing higher education or finding a job.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Every individual will have a unique APAAR ID, which will be linked to the Academic Bank Credit (ABC), which is a digital storehouse that contains information of the credits earned by students throughout their learning journey. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">With the APAAR ID, students would be able to store all their certificates and credits, whether they come from formal education or informal learning. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">When a student completes a course or achieves something, it&rsquo;s digitally certified and securely stored in her account by authorised institutions.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">If the student changes schools, whether within the state or to another state, all her data in the ABC gets transferred to her new school just by sharing the APAAR ID. She won&rsquo;t need to provide physical documents or transfer certificates.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">To sign up for APAAR, students will have to provide basic information such as name, age, date of birth, gender, and a photograph. This information will be verified using their Aadhar number.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">For minors, parents will have to sign the consent form, allowing the Ministry to use the student&rsquo;s Aadhar number for authentication with UIDAI. Registration for creating APAAR ID is voluntary, not mandatory.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Source: <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/one-nation-one-student-id-apaar-explained-9000086/" style="color:#9b4a06; text-decoration:underline">https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/one-nation-one-student-id-apaar-explained-9000086/</a>

ONE NATION ONE STUDENT ID

Why in news?

Recently, Philippines called China an &ldquo;aggressor&rdquo;, accusing it of &ldquo;increasing tensions&rdquo; in the South China Sea and causing the collision that damaged one of Manila&rsquo;s boats during a resupply mission.

About South China Sea:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China, in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luzon, Mindoro and Palawan), and in the south by the Indonesian islands of Borneo, eastern Sumatra and the Bangka Belitung Islands. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It encompassing an area of around 3,500,000 km2. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It communicates with the East China Sea via the Taiwan Strait, the Philippine Sea via the Luzon Strait, the Sulu Sea via the straits around Palawan, and the Java Sea via the Karimata and Bangka Straits. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The Gulf of Thailand and the Gulf of Tonkin are also part of South China Sea.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">South China Sea is a region of tremendous economic and geostrategic importance. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">One-third of the world&#39;s maritime shipping passes through it, carrying over US$3 trillion in trade each year.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Huge oil and natural gas reserves are believed to lie beneath its seabed.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">It also contains lucrative fisheries, which are crucial for the food security of millions in Southeast Asia.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The South China Sea Islands, collectively comprising several archipelago clusters of mostly small uninhabited islands, islets (cays and shoals), reefs/atolls and seamounts numbering in the hundreds, are subject to competing claims of sovereignty by several countries. </li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">These claims are also reflected in the variety of names used for the islands and the sea.</li>
</ul>

9-Dash line Issue:

<ul>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The nine-dash line, also referred to as the eleven-dash line by Taiwan, is a set of line segments on various maps that accompanied the claims of the People&#39;s Republic of China (PRC, &quot;mainland China&quot;) and the Republic of China (ROC, &quot;Taiwan&quot;) in the South China Sea. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">The contested area includes the Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands, the Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks, the Macclesfield Bank, and the Scarborough Shoal. </li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">Certain places have undergone land reclamation by the PRC, ROC, and Vietnam.</li>
	<li style="margin-left:8px">According to former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, &quot;China&#39;s nine-dash line territorial claim over the entire South China Sea is against international laws, particularly the United Nations Convention of the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS)&quot;.</li>
	<li style="margin-bottom:24px; margin-left:8px">Vietnam also rejects the Chinese claim, citing that it is baseless and contrary to UNCLOS.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Source: <a href="https://theprint.in/world/philippines-labels-china-as-an-aggressor-fanning-tensions-in-the-south-china-sea/1815109/" style="color:#9b4a06; text-decoration:underline">https://theprint.in/world/philippines-labels-china-as-an-aggressor-fanning-tensions-in-the-south-china-sea/1815109/</a>

<img alt="" src="https://i.filecdn.in/586llta/image-20231026112230-2-1698299550436.png" />

SOUTH CHINA SEA

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