UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 09-11-2024

Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response initiative

The central government recently launched a project called 'Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response' initiative.

• Aim – The project aims to enhance the country’s capacity to “prevent, detect, and respond to animal health threats.”
• It is to better monitor animal health for prevention of future pandemics.
• Approved by - The Pandemic Fund, created by G20 countries under Indonesian presidency in 2022.
• The basic purpose of the fund is to assist low-and middle-income countries in strengthening their capacities to identify, report and contain future pandemics.
• Funding - In its first investment round, the fund mobilized $2 billion.
• From India, the proposal by the Union animal husbandry department made it to the final list to receive a funding of $25 million.
• Implementing Agencies - The project will work with the help of 3 implementing agencies
  • Asian development bank (adb),
  • The world bank, and
  • The food and agriculture organisation (fao).
• Duration - It is expected to be completed by August 2026.
• Key outputs expected –
  • Augmentation of laboratory systems and vaccine manufacturing facilities;
  • Strengthening of surveillance and early warning systems;
  • Development of human resources capacity and competency;
  • Strengthening of data systems, analytics, risk analysis, and risk communication; and
  • Addressing cross-cutting institutional capacity gaps at national and regional levels.

WHO has declared 6 public health emergencies of international concern and 5 of these have had animal origin. About two-thirds of infectious diseases affecting humans originate from animals.

• India, with 536 million livestock and other animals, requires measures to prevent and manage infection outbreaks.

Reference

Indian Express | Project on animal Health

Okinawicius Tekdi

A post-graduate student from Maharashtra has discovered a new jumping spider species, Okinawicius tekdi from a hill located in the heart of Pune city.

• Genus - Okinawicius Proszynski, first described from India in 2016.
• Nomenclature - Tekdi in Marathi translates to ‘hill’ and the species was named as a tribute to the geographical origin of the animal.
• Appearance - The spider is distinguished by its morphological characteristics, especially in the female genitalia.
• A notable identification feature is the membranous coils of the copulatory ducts, which lie parallel to the surface.
• The male O. tekdi sp. nov. resembles O. tokarensis discovered in 1987.
• But it also shares similarities in male palp with species from the Afraflacilla genus, such as A. kurichiadensis and A. avadavathurensis, both described from India in 2022.

Male Palp is a pair of sensory appendages that arise from the mouthparts of crustaceans and insects.

• This similarity underscores the importance of examining the female counterparts of the Afraflacilla genus, as only one female has been described among the 6 known species from India.
• The species was later found on confluence of rivers Ram and Mula, near the Baner hills.
• It has been seen on plumeria, Ficus and Morinda trees, but its habitat is still unknown.

Reference

Down to Earth | Okinawicius tekdi

Snakebite Envenomation

The Tamil Nadu government has officially declared snakebite envenomation as a notifiable disease.

• It is a life-threatening medical condition caused by venomous snake bites.
• It can cause severe paralysis that may prevent breathing, cause bleeding disorders that can lead to fatal haemorrhage, irreversible kidney failure and severe local tissue destruction.
• The most effective treatment for snakebite envenomation is high-quality snake anti venom, which can prevent or reverse many of the toxic effects of the venom.
• Often preventable, it poses a risk to vulnerable populations, including agricultural workers, children, and those living in tropical and subtropical areas.
• It is a major health concern in rural and snake-endemic regions.

An estimated 5.4 million people worldwide are bitten by snakes each year with 1.8 to 2.7 million cases of envenomings.

• WHO response - World Health Organization has recognized snakebite as a global public health issue and launched a strategy to reduce snakebite-induced deaths and disabilities worldwide.
• In India - India has more than 310 species of snakes, mostly non-Venomous.
• However, there are 66 species that are labelled as venomous or mildly venomous and majority of the snakebites result from 4 species, collectively named as “Big 4” species namely
  • Russell ’s viper (Daboia russelii),
  • Spectacled cobra (Naja naja),
  • Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) and
  • Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus).

• Action plan in India - National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming, which was published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare earlier this year.
• The plan aims to halve snakebite deaths by 2030 through a ‘One Health’ approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health interventions.
• Tamil Nadu’s Plan - It is declared as a notifiable disease under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939.
• To improve the collection of vital data, strengthen clinical infrastructure, and ensure the efficient distribution of anti-snake venom.
• This move is expected to lead to better prevention strategies, reduce mortality rates, and enhance treatment facilities across the state.
• Authorities have noted that there has been a significant underreporting of snakebite cases and deaths in existing data, and the new system is designed to bridge this gap.
• Under the new directive, both government and private hospitals are now required to report cases of snakebites and related fatalities to the government.
• This mandatory reporting system will be integrated with the State’s Integrated Health Information Platform under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program.

Reference

The Hindu | Snakebite Envenoming

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

More research is needed to combat the global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, with India having an infection rate of over 50% of its population.

• It is a type of bacteria that can cause an infection in the stomach or duodenum (first part of the small intestine).
• People usually get it as children, and it can stay in the body for years without causing problems.
• Even though the stomach has strong acid, H. pylori survives by making a substance that weakens the acid.
• Over time, this bacteria can harm the stomach’s protective layer, leading to irritation and sometimes causing painful sores called ulcers.
• Symptoms - H. pylori don’t have symptoms, but when they do, these may include burning stomach pain, bloating, burping, nausea or vomiting. Some may also lose their appetite and experience weight loss.
• While many are infected in childhood without symptoms, in some cases, symptoms don’t appear until the late teens or adulthood, particularly if the infection causes ulcers or digestive problems.
• Transmission - H. Pylori from person to person, primarily through saliva, vomit or stool.
• It can also spread by contaminated food, water or poor hygiene especially in areas with crowded living conditions or limited access to clean water and sanitation.
• Treatment - Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is typically treated with a combination of antibiotics and medications to reduce stomach acid.
• Prevalence - It is almost 10 times more prevalent than diabetes in the country and is a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers and even stomach cancer.
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections affect an estimated 50% to 60% of the population in India and constitute a significant public health challenge.
• Nobel Prize - Dr. Barry Marshall, along with Robin Warren, was awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering that H. pylori was the main cause of peptic ulcers.

References

1. The Hindu | Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
2. Cleveland Clinic | H. pylori Infection

Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

The 2^nd meeting of the India-CARICOM Joint Commission was held in virtual mode recently.

• The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is the oldest surviving integration movement in the developing world.
• It is an official United Nations General Assembly observer.
• Head Quarters - Georgetown, Guyana.
• Established in - CARICOM came into being on 4 July 1973 with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
• It is a grouping of 21 countries (15 member states and 6 Associate Members.
• Member States - Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
• Associate Members - Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Observers - Aruba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.
• Chairmanship – It is rotated every 6 months among the member countries’ heads.
• Pillars

• Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) - CARICOM had officially inaugurated the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in 2007, which replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.
• CCJ serves as the final court of appeal for CARICOM members and also handles regional trade disputes.
• It is home to approximately 16 million citizens, 60% of whom are under the age of 30, and from the main ethnic groups of Indigenous Peoples, Africans, Indians, Europeans, Chinese, Portuguese and Javanese.
• The Community is multi-lingual with English as the major language complemented by French and Dutch and variations of these, as well as African and Asian expressions.

References

1. Ministry of External Affairs | India-CARICOM Joint Commission
2. CARICOM | About