21st November 2024
Article: 21st November, 2024
Topic: India’s Polio Eradication
Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Health
Source: PIB
Context
- One of the biggest achievements in world public health occurred in 2014 when India became polio-free.
V
About
- It was successful because of India’s involvement in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and the strong national immunization campaigns carried out under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).
Polio
- The poliovirus is the causative agent of the highly contagious viral disease known as polio (poliomyelitis).
- It mainly affects kids under five and can cause serious side effects like paralysis, incapacity, or even death.
- Spread:
- Fecal-oral transmission is the primary way that polio spreads.
- Additionally, respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing might transmit it.
- Symptoms:
- Most cases are mild or asymptomatic.
- A smaller percentage of infected individuals develop paralytic polio, which can cause paralysis, usually affecting the legs or respiratory muscles.
- Vaccination:
- Polio cannot be cured; it can only be avoided.
- A child who receives the polio vaccine several times can be protected for life.
- The oral polio vaccine and the inactivated polio vaccine are the two vaccinations that are available. Both are safe and efficient.
India’s Initiatives to Eradicate Polio:
- Pulse Polio Program (1995): By using an oral polio vaccine (OPV) approach, it was able to vaccinate every child under five and reach over a million youngsters.
– The campaign’s catchphrase, “Do Boond Zindagi Ki” (Two drips of life), made it iconic.
- Regular Immunization and System Strengthening: Free vaccinations against polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, hepatitis B, and TB were made available by the UIP.
- Introduction of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) (2015): IPV offers extra defense against polio, particularly against the type 2 poliovirus, and was gradually expanded nationwide by 2016.
- Political Will and Community Involvement: All levels of political officials made sure that funds were allotted and that the initiative got the attention it required.
– In order to target kids in hard-to-reach places, the Pulse Polio programs also mainly depended on door-to-door campaigns. - Final Leap: India was formally proclaimed polio-free on March 27, 2014, a landmark event widely hailed as an illustration of effective public health action.
Way Ahead:
- To maintain high immunization levels and make sure no child is left behind, India continues to hold National Immunization Days (NID) and Sub-National Immunization Days (SNID) every year.
- Border Vaccination and Surveillance: The risk of polio re-importation from endemic areas is reduced by ongoing border vaccination and surveillance.
- New vaccinations and Expansion: As part of larger initiatives to prevent other vaccine-preventable diseases, India has added a number of new vaccinations to its immunization program, such as the Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), and Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine.
- The goal of the 2014-launched Mission Indradhanush is to raise vaccination rates to 90%.
Also Read Topics & Concepts:
Prelims Practice Questions
Q. ‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched by the Government of India pertains to (UPSC PYQ 2016)
a. Immunization of children and pregnant women
b. Construction of smart cities across the country
c. India’s own search for the Earth-like planets in outer space
d. New Educational Policy
Ans: a
Explanation
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, introduced the Mission Indradhanush immunization program on December 25, 2014.
Using the rainbow as a metaphor, it sought to vaccinate every kid by 2020 who is either unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated against seven vaccine-preventable diseases, including hepatitis B, whooping cough, polio, tetanus, measles, and tuberculosis.
WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, and other donor partners provide technical support for the mission.
Mains Model Questions
Q. Explain the differences between oral polio vaccines (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccines (IPV).
| Introduction: The poliovirus is the causative agent of poliomyelitis, also referred to as polio. Young children are the main victims, and in extreme circumstances, it can result in paralysis or even death. We are getting closer to eliminating polio thanks in large part to vaccination, which has also helped to lessen its prevalence worldwide. Body: Impact On: It has the ability to enter the central nervous system and, as it grows, kill the nerve cells that control muscles, resulting in permanent paralysis within a few hours. Children five years of age or younger are usually affected by polio. Muscle weakening, irreversible disability, and even death are possible outcomes. Five to ten percent of people who are paralyzed pass away when their breathing muscles become immobile, according to the India Polio Learning Exchange (in collaboration with UNICEF). Vaccines but no cure: Polio cannot be cured, but there are safe, effective vaccines that can protect a child for the rest of their life if they are administered repeatedly.Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and oral polio vaccine (OPV), created by Dr. Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, respectively, are the two primary forms of polio vaccines that are most commonly used. Although the goal of both vaccinations is to prevent polio, there are notable variations in their makeup, methods of administration, and modes of action. A comparison of OPV and IPV Preference: Due to its affordability and ease of usage, OPV is typically chosen over IPV. Potential: The sickness that OPV is intended to prevent may sometimes recur due to the weakened virus. – Although IPV is a less effective vaccination, it does not carry the risk of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) since it contains inactivated viral particles. – One uncommon negative reaction to OPV is VAPP. Because IPV contains viruses that have been chemically inactivated, it is also more difficult to make. Conclusion: Depending on the current polio epidemiology, vaccination laws, and tactics used by various nations, specific IPV and OPV usage and recommendations may differ. The eradication status of polio, local epidemiology, vaccination availability, cost, cold chain constraints, and the necessity of switching from OPV to IPV during the polio endgame are some of the factors that impact the decision to employ IPV or OPV. |
Article: 21st November, 2024
Topic: Emission cuts from China
Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Environment
Source: Indian Express
Context
- China, the biggest greenhouse gas emitter in the world for over 15 years, is confronted with a major conundrum in its attempts to strike a balance between environmental sustainability and economic growth.
China Emissions Paradox: Emissions Reductions vs. Economic Growth
- The ecology has suffered greatly as a result of China’s economic expansion in recent decades. Due to its significant reliance on coal for energy, the nation is the world’s top producer of carbon dioxide (CO2), contributing close to 30% of annual emissions worldwide.
- In spite of this, China has set aggressive goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 and peak its carbon emissions by 2030.
Challenges in Reducing Emissions
- Dependency on Coal: Due to its significant reliance on coal for industry and electricity, a significant transition to renewable energy is necessary, necessitating a significant financial outlay.
- Financial Stressors: China is a developing nation that finds it difficult to strike a balance between environmental sustainability and economic progress because of the rising energy consumption brought on by rapid urbanization and industrialization.
- Financial and technological limitations: Significant challenges are also presented by the financial and technological resources required to modernize its energy system.
Worldwide Consequences
- China’s ability to cut its emissions is crucial to meeting the global climate targets, especially the 1.5-degree Celsius target set by the Paris Agreement.
- China needs to cut its emissions by at least 66% from their present levels by 2030 in order to meet the 1.5-degree Celsius target, per a recent research by Carbon Action Tracker.
- Considering China’s current emissions trajectory, this is a very difficult aim.
Potential Effects of China Reducing Emissions
- Reducing emissions could have a negative economic impact by slowing down manufacturing and upsetting global supply systems.
- Energy shortages or price increases could result from the complicated and expensive switch from coal to renewable energy.
- Reducing manufacturing in China may cause production to move to nations with laxer laws, raising emissions worldwide.
- China’s carbon reductions could potentially disrupt geopolitical ties, especially with nations that depend on Chinese exports.
Indian Scenario and Difficulties
- Despite international attempts to limit fossil fuel emissions, the “Global Carbon Project” predicts that they will increase by 4.6% in India and 0.2% in China in 2024.
- The global plan frequently ignores the particular difficulties that India, the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, faces in combating climate change.
- Although lowering carbon emissions through renewable energy is the main goal of global climate action, India’s socioeconomic, geographic, and developmental circumstances make this strategy challenging.
- India’s per capita emissions are significantly lower than those of wealthy nations, despite the country’s sizable population and rising energy use.
Conclusion
- China’s climate policies are characterized by a paradox: although it continues to utilize coal, which makes it a significant polluter, it is also in the forefront of green technologies, illustrating the difficulty of striking a balance between environmental sustainability and economic growth.
- China’s dual strategy draws attention to the difficulties in reducing its emissions, which have important geopolitical, social, and economic ramifications. The international community must work together to create a sustainable, balanced transition in order to address these issues.
Also Read Topics & Concepts:
Prelims Practice Questions
Q. Consider the following statements
1. China and India have the largest emissions per capita.
2. In terms of global greenhouse gas emissions, India came in third.
Which of the above statements are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: b
Explanation
Emissions per capita: Russia (11.12 tons) and the United States (15.24 tons) have the highest emissions per capita. India emits about 1.8 tons of emissions per person, which is much less than the global average of 4.4 tons.
With yearly emissions of over 2.6 billion tonnes (Bt) CO2eq, India ranks third in terms of total greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Global Carbon Atlas. In this instance, the US and China are at the top.
Mains Model Questions
Q. Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997 (UPSC PYQ 2022)
| Introduction: One urgent environmental concern that has a significant impact on the Earth’s climate system is global warming. It alludes to the gradual rise in mean temperatures brought on by the buildup of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. Rising sea levels, melting glaciers and polar ice caps, an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, and ecological disturbances are just a few of the ways that this warming affects global climate patterns. Body: GHG emissions and fostering global collaboration: The Kyoto Protocol was ratified in 1997 in order to counteract global warming and rising GHG levels. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) are the six main greenhouse gases whose emissions were to be reduced by the protocol. Emission reduction goals: Developed nations, referred to as Annex I countries, were required to meet the Kyoto Protocol’s emission reduction goals. These nations had to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to predetermined levels below their baseline from 1990. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Annex I countries were able to get carbon credits by investing in emission reduction initiatives in developing nations. This system sought to lower global emissions while advancing sustainable development. Annex I countries were able to undertake emission reduction projects together and gain emission reduction units (ERUs) as credits toward achieving their reduction targets thanks to Joint Implementation (JI).Emissions trading was made possible by the Kyoto Protocol, which gave Annex I nations the ability to purchase and sell emission allowances, giving them more flexibility in achieving their goals.Technology Transfer and Financial Support: To help developing nations reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the effects of climate change, the protocol placed a strong emphasis on rich nations providing financial support and technology transfer to developing nations. Conclusion: The Kyoto Protocol, which was created in 1997 and set carbon reduction goals for signatory nations, was essential in combating global warming. Adopting renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency, putting carbon price systems in place, and encouraging sustainable habits are some control strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To lessen the negative consequences of global warming and create a resilient and sustainable future, continued international collaboration and adherence to such norms are crucial. |
Article: 21st November, 2024
Topic: The dangers of high-altitude sickness
Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Health
Source: The Hindu
Context
- Increased deaths in the Himalayas due to high-altitude sickness highlight the need for efficient visitor prevention measures.
What is High-Altitude Sickness?
- Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), the medical term for high-altitude sickness, is a syndrome that arises when the body is unable to adjust to lower oxygen levels at elevations higher than 8,000 feet (2,400 meters).
- Reasons: Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation in bodily tissues, results from reduced air pressure at greater elevations, which decreases oxygen availability.
- AMS symptoms include headache, nausea, exhaustion, and dyspnea.
- High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), a fluid accumulation in the lungs that impairs breathing, can develop from AMS if treatment is not received.
- High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE): A buildup of fluid in the brain that causes coma, disorientation, and hallucinations.
Changes in Physiology at High Altitude
- Hyperventilation, or rapid breathing, to make up for low oxygen levels.
- To improve oxygen transfer, more red blood cells are produced, thickening the blood and putting extra strain on the heart.
Problems at higher elevations
- Inadequate Infrastructure: There are no specialized medical facilities to treat high-altitude illness in areas outside of big cities like Shimla.
- The exception is Leh in Ladakh, which has established strong facilities for illnesses that arise at high elevations.
- Inadequate Preventive Health Interventions: Tourists entering high-altitude regions are not required to undergo health tests.
- In isolated areas, there is limited access to skilled medical workers, hyperbaric chambers, and oxygen supplies.
What actions are required?
- Required Registration Platform: Make it essential for visitors to high-altitude areas to register in order to track mobility and enable prompt emergency response.
- Screening: At tourist entry points, do preventive health tests.
- Post health and safety information on government websites and at checkpoints to alert visitors about hazards and acclimatization.
- Gentle ascending: To minimize the danger of AMS and provide time for acclimatization, encourage gentle ascending schedules.
- Emergency Response Measures: At popular tourist destinations, set up portable hyperbaric chambers or extra oxygen.
– Promote the use of certified paramedics at high-altitude locations. - Research and Development: Establish research facilities to investigate how human physiology is affected by high altitude and create more effective therapeutic approaches.
- Air Ambulance Services: Provide air ambulance services to the Himalayan States so that patients can be quickly evacuated from isolated areas for medical treatment.
- Infrastructure Development: To provide prompt access to medical facilities, improve road connectivity to isolated areas.
Also Read Topics & Concepts:
Prelims Practice Questions
Q. Which of the following describes a medical condition where symptoms like headache, nausea, and dizziness are brought on by a decreased oxygen supply at high altitudes?
Which one of the following terms refers to a medical condition caused by reduced oxygen availability at high altitudes, leading to symptoms such as headache, nausea, and dizziness?
a. Hypothermia
b. High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
c. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
d. Altitude Syncope
Ans: c
Explanation
Reduced oxygen availability at high elevations, exceeding 8,000 feet, is the cause of the medical disease known as acute mountain sickness (AMS). As the body tries to adjust to the reduced oxygen levels, it causes symptoms like headache, nausea, lightheadedness, and dyspnea.
Mains Model Questions
Q. Discuss about the signs, causes, and remedies for high-altitude sickness.
| Introduction: The inability of the body to adjust to lower oxygen levels at high elevations, usually exceeding 8,000 feet (2,400 meters), results in high-altitude sickness, sometimes referred to as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Body: Causes: Hypoxia (a lack of oxygen in bodily tissues) results from a decline in air pressure and oxygen levels at high elevations. The risk is increased by rapid ascent without acclimatization. Signs and symptoms Headaches, nausea, exhaustion, and dyspnea are among the initial symptoms. If left untreated, it may develop into: Fluid builds up in the lungs in high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), which makes breathing extremely difficult. Confusion, hallucinations, and coma are symptoms of High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), a condition in which fluid builds up in the brain.Body’s Reaction: In an attempt to adjust, the body produces more red blood cells and increases breathing, thickening the blood and putting stress on the heart. Severity: Both HACE and HAPE are potentially fatal conditions that call for prompt medical attention, frequently including a descent to a lower altitude. Which Treatment Strategies Are Effective? Immediate Descent: The best way to cure high-altitude illness is to descend 300–1,000 meters. Significant improvement in symptoms occurs following descent. Supplemental Oxygen: Severe disorders such as high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and acute mountain sickness (AMS) can be alleviated by oxygen therapy. Portable hyperbaric chambers are helpful in situations where it isn’t possible to descend right away. Medication: Temporary relief is provided by medications such as dexamethasone and acetazolamide. What should be done? Enhance Medical Facilities: Create cutting-edge medical facilities with specific facilities for such situations in high-altitude areas like Leh. Required Tourist Registration: Put in place a system to track visitor movements and gather information for high-altitude sickness research. Preventive measures include conducting health inspections at ports of entry, akin to Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti’s Inner Line Permit system. Give tourists who are at risk preventative drugs like acetazolamide. Encourage gentle Ascent: To aid in acclimatization, promote gentle climbs interspersed with rest days. Emergency Services: Give states air ambulances so they can evacuate quickly. Provide more oxygen supply and transportable hyperbaric chambers to areas. Public Awareness: Disseminate information about health and safety both online and at checkpoints. |
Article: 21st November, 2024
Topic: Thai Sacbrood Virus
Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Health, 3 – Environment
Source: The Hindu
Context
- Pollinators, which are essential to agricultural production and nutritional security, are seriously threatened by the Thai Sacbrood Virus (TSBV).
The Thai Sacbrood Virus
- Apis cerana indica, or Asian honey bees, are the main victims of this extremely contagious viral disease.
- Symptoms: Because of inadequate pupation, infected larvae turn yellow and then black, taking on the appearance of a sac.
- Geographic Dispersion: It destroyed about 90% of Asiatic honey bee (Apis cerana indica) colonies when it was first discovered in Southern India in 1991–1992.
- In 2021, it reappeared in Telangana, and reports of it have also come from China and Vietnam.
- Transfer: Although the precise routes of transmission are still unknown, possible processes include:
- Direct contact: Disseminated via contaminated hive equipment and interactions between bees.
- Managed honey bees can spread the virus to wild pollinators, which can alter the virus and make it more virulent.
Importance of Pollination:
- Crop Yield: About 75% of the world’s food crops depend on pollination to reproduce.
- Ecosystem Services: Pollinators, such as birds, butterflies, and bees, are essential to preserving ecological equilibrium and sustaining other food chain species.
- Climate Resilience: By encouraging genetic variety, pollination helps plants adapt to shifting climates.
India’s honey bees
- Four native honey bee species are among the more than 700 bee species found in India:
- Asiatic honey bee (Apis cerana indica),
- Giant rock bee (Apis dorsata),
- Dwarf honey bee (Apis florea),
- The stingless bee (sp. Trigona).
- In order to boost the nation’s honey production, Western honey bees were brought to India in 1983.
Also Read Topics & Concepts:
Prelims Practice Questions
Q. Consider the following statements
1. Keystone species have an impact on an ecosystem’s composition and operation.
2. One example of a keystone species is the honeybee.
Which of the above statements are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: c
Explanation
Species that have an impact on their community through the creation, alteration, or upkeep of physical habitat for both themselves and other species. An organism that keeps the system together is called a keystone species. The predator-predator relationship is a typical illustration of a keystone species. These organisms have an impact on an ecosystem’s composition and operation.
By establishing, altering, or preserving physical habitat for both themselves and other species, keystone species have an impact on their community. Keystone species include things like plankton, which is food for many fish, starfish, sea otters, and bees, which pollinate fruits and flowers. Pioneer species are those that initially establish themselves in previously uninhabited places.
Mains Model Questions
Q. Pollinators like bees and butterflies are becoming less common as a result of the usage of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. Discuss.
| Introduction: Agriculture provides food and other resources for human survival, and is a vital component of human civilization. However, the ecosystem has suffered as a result of the usage of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture, especially for pollinators like bees and butterflies. Plant reproduction depends on pollinators, and the planet’s biodiversity and food security are at risk due to their decline. Body: Pollinator effects of pesticides and fertilizers: In agriculture, pesticides and fertilizers are extensively used to boost crop yields and protect crops from pests and illnesses. Nevertheless, these substances may harm pollinators in the following ways:Negative Impact on Health: Pesticides have the potential to kill bees and butterflies directly or increase their susceptibility to illnesses. Alter the Biology of blooms: However, fertilizers have the ability to alter the amount and quality of blooms, which reduces their appeal to pollinators. Pollen and nectar sources are contaminated by pesticides: Several research state that over 90% of pollen samples from beehives in agricultural settings and over 90% of stream samples are contaminated with several pesticides.A rapid and inexplicable loss of bees from a hive is known as colony collapse disorder (CCD). It is a complicated issue that most likely stems from a number of variables, including as sickness, pesticides, habitat loss, and other stressors. Reducing Pesticide and Fertilizer Impacts on Pollinators: The detrimental impact of fertilizers and pesticides on pollinators can be lessened by employing a number of tactics. Employ different techniques: Using alternative pest management techniques, including integrated pest management or biological control, is one strategy.Restore Pollinator Habitat: Preserving and reestablishing pollinator habitats is an additional strategy. This can involve lowering or doing away with the usage of fertilizers and pesticides in these areas, as well as growing wildflowers and other plants that offer pollinators food and places to nest. Related Government Programs: National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM): Promoting beekeeping and honey production in India is the goal of this endeavor. It offers beekeepers financial support for the acquisition of bee colonies and beekeeping supplies.The goal of the government’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is to lessen agriculture’s reliance on pesticides. The initiative encourages the adoption of non-toxic pest control techniques, such as using natural predators.The National Pollinator Action Plan (NAPP): The NAPP is an all-encompassing strategy to preserve and safeguard pollinators in India. Measures to lessen pesticide use and encourage pollinator and habitat conservation are part of the proposal. Conclusion: The ecology, biodiversity, and food security are all significantly impacted by pollinator loss. The Indian government has taken a number of steps to shield pollinators from the harmful effects of fertilizers and pesticides since it understands how important they are. But more work is required to lessen the harmful impacts of fertilizers and pesticides on pollinators and to promote sustainable agriculture practices. |
