IASbhai DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS(THE HINDU+LIVEMINT+PIB)
I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.– Jimmy Dean
Page Contents:
NLU report
HEADLINES:
IIT-D team develops cheaper COVID-19 test
WHY IN NEWS:
‘Probe-free detection assay’ sent to NIV, Pune
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Diseases
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS this is not a proven research yet. Wait and watch ! For now understand and dig the method and approach of this quick invention .
ISSUE:
ABOUT THE NEW RESEARCH:
The National Institute of Virology, Pune, is in the process of validating this test on clinical samples.
The “probe-free detection assay” has been optimised and tested for sensitivity at the research laboratories of IIT.
The Centre on Saturday recommended that the maximum charge for a COVID-19 test by private laboratories should not exceed ₹4,500.
However, the team at IIT claimed their test could be performed at a much cheaper cost.
These unique regions are not present in other human coronaviruses, providing an opportunity to specifically detect COVID-19,
‘ACCURATE RESULTS’
The current testing methods available are “probe-based”, while the one developed by them is “probe-free”, which reduces the testing cost without compromising on accuracy.
The primers designed by the group specifically bind to regions conserved in over 200 fully sequenced COVID-19 genomes.
IASbhai WINDUP:
The sensitivity of this in-house assay is comparable to that of commercially available kits.
“This assay can be used as a qualitative (yes or no) assay without the need for extensive instrumentation. In addition, it can also quantitatively assess virus loads,”.
SOURCES:THE HINDU/DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS for UPSC CSE Prelims & Mains
Isolation is India’s best weapon: ICMR
HEADLINES:
Isolation is India’s best weapon: ICMR
WHY IN NEWS:
Lockdown is the most important step in breaking virus transmission, says its Director-General
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Diseases
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS methods of prevention of an epidemic can be understood from this small article.Nothing much important !
ISSUE:
Lockdown advantage: With people staying home during the ‘Janata Curfew’ on Sunday, Fire and Emergency Service personnel sprayed disinfectants in Ahmedabad.
A lockdown is the most important step in breaking transmission of the infection.
Testing had been scaled up with 111 labs offering COVID-19 tests.
Also, four of 60 online applications received from the private sector to test for the virus had been approved.
“There has been no delay in allowing private labs to test.
The idea was to put in place enough safety nets to prevent any accidents to medical personnel handling this highly infectious virus,’’ .
“India in the past one week has tested 5,000 samples and has the capacity to scale up to 50,000-70,000 tests a week.
Compared to this, France tested 10,000 a week, the U.K. 16,000 a week and the U.S. 26,000 a week.
The virus test can be positive between two and 14 days and 80% people experience only mild symptoms and 55% need hospitalisation.
VENTILATORS ORDERED
India had placed orders for 1,200 ventilators.
“India enough stock of personal protection equipment and have asked the States to use all their resources to ensure that the poor and disadvantaged groups don’t suffer.
IASbhai WINDUP:
We are dealing with a highly infectious and unknown virus, so isolation is our biggest weapon.
SOURCES:THE HINDU/DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS for UPSC CSE Prelims & Mains
Golden Triangle
HEADLINES:
Seizure of Afghan meth on high seas triggers concern
WHY IN NEWS:
It indicates a trend of contraband being smuggled out through a well-established heroin trafficking route, says official
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Drug-enforcement
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS it is important to understand the the drug and its harmful impact.
For MAINS concentrate on economies sustained on drug menace. Why only Golden triangle is famous for such act ? Any geographical reason to it ?
ISSUE:
Huge haul: Sri Lankan police personnel examining drugs seized by the Navy on March 5.
THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
Noting that the history of the Golden Triangle (the opium-producing area where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet) demonstrated that meth production could have significant impacts on the opium economy, rapidly transforming a plant-based narcotics challenge into a challenge of tracking large synthetic laboratories
The Golden Triangle is the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers.
It is the indication of an emerging trend of meth produced in Afghanistan being smuggled out through an already well-established route for heroin trafficking to different parts of the world.
METHAMPHETAMINE
Also known as meth, crystal, glass, ice, speed and shards, methamphetamine is a psychostimulant “party” drug.
It is much cheaper and highly addictive compared with cocaine. Its effect may last for over 12 hours. In contrast, heroin is a depressant.
In Afghanistan, meth is known as shisha (glass).
- Methamphetamine is usually a white, bitter-tasting powder or a pill. Crystal methamphetamine looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks.
- Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that is chemically similar to amphetamine (a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy).
- People can take methamphetamine by smoking, swallowing, snorting, or injecting the drug.
- Methamphetamine increases the amount of dopamine in the brain, which is involved in movement, motivation, and reinforcement of rewarding behaviors.
- Short-term health effects include increased wakefulness and physical activity, decreased appetite, and increased blood pressure and body temperature.
- Long-term health effects include risk of addiction; risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis; severe dental problems (“meth mouth”); intense itching, leading to skin sores from scratching; violent behavior; and paranoia.
- Methamphetamine can be highly addictive. When people stop taking it, withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, fatigue, severe depression, psychosis, and intense drug cravings.
- The most effective treatments for methamphetamine addiction so far are behavioral therapies.
- There are currently no government-approved medications to treat methamphetamine addiction.
BULK PRODUCTION
A startling revelation was that the meth in the country was being produced in bulk using ephedrine extracted from a shrub locally known as Oman (Ephedra) growing in the wild in the Afghan mountains, including in Helmand, Ghazni and Wardak.(MAP THEM)
The shift from use of chemical to plant-based ephedrine for making meth was very recent.
IASbhai WINDUP:
The UNODC report (January 29, 2019) stated that opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan peaked in 2017, after which it declined,”
But the incident examines that they have moved to meth.
SOURCES:THE HINDU/DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS for UPSC CSE Prelims & Mains
‘COVID-19 is a new animal in the zoo’
HEADLINES:
‘COVID-19 is a new animal in the zoo’
WHY IN NEWS:
States have been told to marshal all resources to contain the virus, says NITI Aayog member
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Diseases
LEARNING:
Just an update ! Nothing important for Prelims or Mains. Important now for existence !
ISSUE:
COVID REALITY CHECK
If it spreads, serious patients will come in and we cannot miss this indication. COVID-19 is a new animal in the zoo, we are still understanding the virus.
We know that it is a pandemic, it is somewhat explosive and somewhat delayed. We may be better-off currently but be prepared for the worst.
We should be sensible for the next two months.
Since we cannot create a perfect situation, social distancing is key and this drill is essential.
We are looking at two types of technologies/products — one is diagnostic kits and the other, of course, vaccine which is a long term solution.
IASbhai WINDUP:
Remember if a vaccine comes out somewhere else, they may find it very sensible to manufacture here in India. So that’s the silver lining, we have a huge vaccine production capability.
SOURCES:THE HINDU/DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS for UPSC CSE Prelims & Mains
Let us ‘Discuss’
IASbhai WINDUP:
Let us know what you think about this in the comment section.
SOURCES:THE HINDU/DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS for UPSC CSE Prelims & Mains