West Nile Virus
Context The West Nile virus was found in two people, one in Brooklyn and one in Queens, as well as a “record number” of infected mosquitoes throughout the city, according to the New York City Health Department. Relevance GS Paper 2: Health Mains Question Virus attacks are common in various parts of the world, but we […]
India’s Pulse Polio Programme
Context: Polio, a deadly disease that used to paralyze tens of thousands of children every year, is spreading in London, New York and Jerusalem for the first time in decades, spurring catch-up vaccination campaigns. Relevance: GS II- Health Dimensions of the Article: What is Polio? Polio in India India’s Pulse Polio Programme Steps taken by […]
What Is Rice fortification?
Focus: GS II: Health Why in News? One Year of Announcement of Rice Fortification. 151 districts in 24 states lifted fortified rice; 6.83 LMT distributed by the States/UTs in Phase II. What is rice fortification? The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) defines fortification as “deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in a food […]
What is Langya Henipavirus?
Context: Langya Henipavirus: Almost three years after the novel coronavirus was detected in China, a new zoonotic virus has been discovered in the country’s two eastern provinces with 35 infections identified so far. This new type of Henipavirus is also being called Langya Henipavirus or the LayV. Relevance: GS II: Health Dimensions of the Article: What is Langya […]
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
Focus: GS II- Health Why in News? Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) making steady progress in digitizing and linking health records of citizens with their ABHA numbers About Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will help connect digital health solutions across the country. All Indians will get a digital health ID under this scheme. […]
Government Sets Malnutrition Target
Context The Union Minister for Women and Child Development informed the Rajya Sabha that the Central government intends to reduce stunting and undernutrition (underweight prevalence) among children under the age of six by 2% per year. Relevance GS Paper 2: Social justice, Health Mains Question Even with a number of programmes in place to combat […]
Supply of Fortified Rice Across Government Schemes
Focus: GS II: Health Why in News? The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution informed that the Government has approved supply of fortified rice across Government Schemes like Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) throughout the country by 2024 What is rice fortification? The Food Safety and […]
Lumpy Skin Disease
Context: Cattle herders in western Rajasthan have suffered heavy losses due to an outbreak of the contagious Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). Relevance: GS-II: Health Dimensions of the Article: Key Points About Lumpy Skin Disease Key Points: Hundreds of cattle have died from infection, according to data from the state animal husbandary department. The state’s dairy […]
What Is The Marburg Virus Disease?
Context The first two cases of the Marburg virus, a highly infectious Ebola-like disease, have been confirmed officially by Ghana after test results were verified by a Senegal laboratory. This outbreak is only the second time that the disease has been detected in West Africa. Relevance: GS II- Health Dimensions of the Article: What is […]
About Kala Azar
Context: Eleven districts of Bengal reported at least 65 cases of black fever or ‘Kala-Azar disease in the last couple of weeks, a senior official of the health department said, based on state-administered surveillance. Relevance: GS III- Health, Prelims About Kala Azar Kala-azar is a slow progressing indigenous disease caused by a protozoan parasite of […]