Daily Current Affairs Quiz: 22 May 2021

ANSWER: C

WHY IN NEWS ?

• A new point-of-care test has been found to be highly sensitive in the rapid diagnosis of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD).

• This disease is also known as monkey fever.

About:

• It is caused by Kyasanur Forest disease Virus (KFDV), which primarily affects humans and monkeys.
• It was first identified in 1957 in a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka. Since then, between 400-500 human cases per year have been reported.
• Eventually, KFD emerged as a grave public health problem spreading through the entire Western Ghats.

Transmission:

• In nature, the virus is maintained mainly in hard ticks (Haemaphysalis spinigera), monkeys, rodents and birds.
• To humans, it may occur after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal (a sick or recently dead monkey).

Symptoms:

• Characterised by chills, frontal headache, body ache, and high fever for five to 12 days with a case fatality rate of 3 to 5%.

Diagnosis:

• Diagnosis can be made in the early stage of illness by molecular detection by PCR or virus isolation from blood.
• Later, serologic testing using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Serologic Assay (ELISA) can be performed.

Treatment and Prevention:

• • There is no specific treatment for monkey fever.

• A vaccine (Formalin inactivated KFDV vaccine) does exist for KFD and is used in endemic areas of India.

• • However, it is found that vaccines are not effective once the person is infected with fever.

ANSWER: B

WHY IN NEWS ?

• The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) (International Biodiversity day) is observed on 22nd May every year.

About:

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1993 proclaimed 22nd May as IDB to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

• The UNGA also declared the period 2011-2020 as the United Nations (UN) Decade on Biodiversity to promote the implementation of a strategic plan on biodiversity and its overall vision of living in harmony with nature.
• It also declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

2021 Theme:

• This year’s theme is “We’re part of the solution” which is a continuation of 2020 theme- Our solutions are in nature.
• This serves as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges.

ANSWER: C

WHY IN NEWS ?

Recently, India virtually hosted the 7th meeting of the BRICS Astronomy Working Group (BAWG) under the Science, Technology, and Innovation track of the BRICS 2021.

• The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, and Department of Science and Technology (DST) coordinated the meeting.

About:

• BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• In 2001, the British Economist Jim O’Neill coined the term BRIC to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

• The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers’ in 2006.
• South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS.

• India has assumed the BRICS Presidency from January 2021.

ANSWER: D

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Recently, the government has increased the subsidy to 140% on Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser in order to retain the selling price for farmers at the current level.

• Recently, the international prices of phosphoric acid, ammonia etc. used in DAP have gone up by 60% to 70%.

 About:

• DAP is the second most commonly used fertiliser in India after urea.
• Farmers normally apply this fertiliser just before or at the beginning of sowing, as it is high in phosphorus (P) that stimulates root development.
• DAP (46% P, 18% Nitrogen) is the preferred source of Phosphorus for farmers. This is similar to urea, which is their preferred nitrogenous fertiliser containing 46% N.

ANSWER: A

WHY IN NEWS ?

• The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment has virtually launched a 6-month CBID (Community Based Inclusive Development) Program on rehabilitation of Divyangjan (Persons with Disabilities).

• About:

• Developed by: The programme has been co-designed by the Rehabilitation Council of India and the University of Melbourne.
• Aim: The programme aims to create a pool of Grassroot rehabilitation workers at the community level. These workers will be trained for successfully discharging their duties.
• After training, the workers can then work alongside the ASHA and Anganwadi workers. They can handle cross-disability issues and facilitate the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. The workers will be called ‘Divyang Mitra’ i.e. friends of persons with disabilities.
• Nodal Body: National Board of Examination in Rehabilitation under the Rehabilitation Council of India will conduct examinations. The board will also award certificates to pass-out candidates.

ANSWER: B

WHY IN NEWS ?

A consignment of Dahanu Gholvad sapota (naseberry) has been exported to the United Kingdom from Maharashtra’s Palghar district. This will provide a major boost to future shipments of Geographical Indication (GI) certified products from India.

About Gholvad Sapota:

• The Geographical Indication(GI) certification of Gholvad Sapota is held by Maharashtra Rajya Chikoo Utpadak Sangh.
• The fruit is popular for its sweet and unique taste. The unique taste is believed to be derived from the calcium-rich soil of the Gholvad village in Palghar district.

About Sapota:

• Sapota is a popular tropical winter fruit relished for its sweet flavour. It also has indispensable medicinal properties and therapeutic benefits.
• The fruit comprises soft, easily digestible pulp made up of natural sugars that are in line with mango, banana and jackfruit.
• In India, the fruit is grown in Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka is the largest grower followed by Maharashtra.

ANSWER: A

WHY IN NEWS ?

• A group of archivists and scholars has called for transparency in the proposed demolition of annexes that form part of the National Archives of India (NAI) in order to make way for the Central Vista project.

• About 

• National Archives of India (NAI) is a custodian of the non-current records of enduring value of the Government of India. It holds them in trust for the use of administrators and scholars.
• Origin: It was originally established as the Imperial Record Department in 1891 in Calcutta(Kolkata). This department was transferred to the new capital, New Delhi, In 1911, and it was shifted into the present building in 1926.
• Nodal Ministry: It functions as an Attached Office of the Department of Culture under the Ministry of Culture.
• Significance: It is the biggest archival repository in South Asia. It has a vast corpus of records viz., public records, oriental records among others which constitute an invaluable source of information.
• Headquarters: New Delhi. It also has a Regional Office at Bhopal and three Record Centres at Bhubaneswar, Jaipur and Pondicherry.

ANSWER: C

WHY IN NEWS ?

• New Cases of White Fungus from Covid-19 patients have been reported in states such as Bihar and others.

About:

• White Fungus is also known as Candidiasis. It is a type of fungal infection caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida.
• Candida normally lives on the skin and inside the body in places such as the mouth, throat, gut without causing any problems.

• However, candida can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body (for example, the bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, or brain).

• Symptoms: Symptoms of white fungus vary depending on the area affected. Most infections result in minimal complications such as redness, itching, and discomfort. However, complications may be severe or even fatal if left untreated in certain populations.
• Vulnerable Group: People with low immunity, pre-existing medical issues, people with diabetes, and people on or using steroids are at a high risk of contracting the infection.

• COVID-19 patients on oxygen support can inhale these fungal spores if their ventilators and oxygen support equipment is not sanitised properly.
• Risk is also increased by overuse of steroids and usage of tap water in the humidifier of oxygen cylinders.

• Prevention:
  • Patients who are on oxygen or ventilators should be taken care of in terms of hygiene.
  • The tubes and equipment should be thoroughly cleaned. Only sterilized water should be used in oxygen cylinder humidifiers.
• Treatment: It is not life-threatening. The treatment of White Fungus disease is mainly done through antifungal medicines. However, this changes if a person contracts severe disease and lungs are infected.