Centre issues State alerts after WHO declares Ebola emergency

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Government introduced the Pentavalent vaccine, which also fights against Diphtheria. This implies that Diphtheria is still prevalent. Statement 2 is incorrect: Chickenpox is still widespread among the population. Statement 3 is correct: Smallpox has been eradicated from India. India declared itself free of smallpox in 1979.

 The Wolbachia method is a biological method that utilises the Wolbachia bacteria to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, particularly dengue fever. * Wolbachia naturally infects some insect species, but not Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary vector for dengue fever transmission. Scientists introduce Wolbachia into Aedes aegypti populations.  Wolbachia reduces the ability of these mosquitoes to transmit dengue virus.  * As Wolbachia spreads through the mosquito population, it can significantly reduce the incidence of dengue fever.  * This method offers a natural and sustainable approach to controlling dengue fever, a major public health concern in tropical and subtropical regions.

Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that target specific antigens and can be used to treat viral infections like Nipah virus. * ✅ I. Man-made proteins – Created by cloning a single immune cell type. * ✅II. Bind to specific antigens – Help stimulate or guide immune response. * ✅III. Used in viral infections – Applied in treating infections like Nipah virus. All three statements are correct.

Statement 1 is correct. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCVs) are effective in preventing several serious diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. This includes pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord), and sepsis (a life-threatening blood infection). Statement 2 is also correct. The growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major concern. PCV vaccination helps reduce dependence on antibiotics, particularly for these resistant strains. This lowers the risk of antibiotic overuse and emergence of further resistance. Statement 3 is incorrect. While most people experience no serious side effects with PCV vaccines, there can be mild reactions like redness, swelling, or soreness at the injection site. Serious allergic reactions are rare.

Viruses can survive in oceans, infect bacteria, and alter host cell transcription. ❌Statement I: False. Viruses can survive in ocean waters, and marine viruses are highly abundant. ❌Statement II: False. Viruses can infect bacteria; for example, bacteriophages specifically infect bacteria. ❌Statement III: False. Viruses can alter host transcription and modify host gene expression. None of the statements are correct.

Option A is correct. Both Hepatitis B virus and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, sexual contact, and from mother to child during childbirth. Option B is incorrect. Unlike Hepatitis C, there is a vaccine available for Hepatitis B. The Hepatitis B vaccine is highly effective in preventing Hepatitis B virus infection. Option C is correct. According to global health statistics, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses combined is indeed several times more than those infected with HIV. Option D is correct. Many individuals infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses may not show any symptoms for years or even decades. This is known as chronic hepatitis, and it can lead to severe liver damage if left untreated.

Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia were in the news for the outbreak of the Ebola virus. The most widespread outbreak of the Ebola virus disease began in 2013 and continued until 2016, causing major loss of life and socio-economic disruption in the West African region, mainly in the countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The first cases were recorded in Guinea in December 2013. Later, the disease spread to neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Influenza (H1N1) virus is a subtype of influenza A virus that was the most common cause of human influenza (flu) in 2009 and is associated with the 1918 outbreak known as the Spanish Flu. It is an orthomyxovirus that contains the glycoproteins haemagglutinin and neuraminidase. For this reason, they are described as H1N1, H1N2 etc., depending on the type of H or N antigens they express with metabolic synergy. - Haemagglutinin causes red blood cells to clump together and binds the virus to the infected cell.
- Neuraminidase is a type of glycoside hydrolase enzyme which helps to move the virus particles through the infected cell and assist in budding from the host cells. In June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new strain of swine-origin H1N1 as a pandemic. This strain is often called swine flu by the public media.

Statement 1 is incorrect. While genetic factors can contribute to susceptibility to infections, they are not directly related to the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens. Statement 2 is correct. Incorrect use of antibiotics, including taking incorrect doses or not completing the full course of treatment, can contribute to the development of drug resistance in microbial pathogens. Statement 3 is correct. The widespread use of antibiotics in livestock farming can lead to the development of drug-resistant pathogens that can affect both animals and humans. Statement 4 is incorrect. While individuals with chronic diseases may be more susceptible to infections, this factor is not directly related to the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens.

* Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease that cannot be spread through tattooing. * Hepatitis B is a liver infection that can lead to liver failure and cancer. It's spread through contact with the blood, open sores, or body fluids of an infected person. * HIV is a virus that destroys the white blood cells responsible for fighting infections. It can result in AIDS, the final stage of infection. It spreads mainly through unprotected sex, sharing drug needles, or contact with infected blood.