Nirav Da

🪱 Snakebite Envenomation🏥 The Tamil Nadu government has declared snakebite envenomation a notifiable disease, making it a major step in improving healthcare responses. 🚨 🐍 What is Snakebite Envenomation? A life-threatening condition caused by venomous snake bites, envenomation can lead to: 🧊 Paralysis, affecting breathing 🩸 Bleeding disorders causing fatal haemorrhage 🗑 Kidney failure ⚠️ Severe tissue damage 🧪 The Treatment: Anti-Venom High-quality anti-venom remains the most effective treatment to counteract the venom’s effects, often saving lives. 💉 👨‍🌾 Vulnerable Groups Agricultural workers, children, and those in tropical areas are especially at risk. This is a crucial health concern in rural and snake-prone areas. 🌍 📊 Global Impact: Every year, an estimated 5.4 million people are bitten, with 1.8 - 2.7 million envenomings worldwide. 🏢 WHO Response 🌐 It has recognized snakebite as a global health issue, aiming to reduce deaths and disabilities worldwide. 🌎 🐍 Did you know? India is home to over 310 snake species, with 66 being venomous or mildly venomous. Most bites stem from the "Big 4" snakes: Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) Spectacled cobra (Naja naja) Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) 🇮🇳 National Action Plan for Prevention and Control India’s plan targets reducing snakebite fatalities by 50% by 2030, using a ‘One Health’ approach that connects human, animal, and environmental health. 🌿 🏥 Tamil Nadu’s New Plan Under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939: Snakebite envenomation is now a notifiable disease Hospitals, both government and private, must report cases Data collection and anti-venom distribution will improve This mandatory reporting system will align with the State’s Integrated Health Information Platform 🖥 Source - The Hindu #GS3 #SnT

🦠 Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (VDPV) - Know the Facts! 💉 What is VDPV? VDPV stands for Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus, a rare strain where the weakened virus in the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) mutates and regains the ability to cause paralysis. How does OPV work? 💊 OPV contains a live, weakened virus that stimulates an immune response, protecting people from polio. How does transmission occur? 🚻 The weakened virus replicates briefly in the intestines and is excreted in stool. In rare cases, it can mutate, potentially causing disease in areas with: Low immunization rates Immunocompromised individuals Poor sanitation and hygiene conditions What symptoms does VDPV cause? ⚠️ VDPV can cause acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), which includes muscle pain, loss of reflexes, and floppy limbs. Does VDPV pose a risk? 🛑 Yes, VDPV poses a similar risk to the community as wild poliovirus and can spread in unvaccinated populations. How is VDPV detected? 🔍 If VDPV is found in at least two genetically linked sources, it is labeled as "circulating". What can prevent VDPV? 💉 Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) protects against VDPV and is administered via injection. Since 2000, countries like the United States have used IPV exclusively. Did India eliminate polio? 🇮🇳 Yes, India was declared polio-free in 2014 by the World Health Organization (WHO)! #GS3 #SnT

🔭 New Exoplanet Discovery - TOI-6651b 🌌 Who led the discovery of TOI-6651b? ✨ An international team led by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad. What type of planet is TOI-6651b? 🪐 It’s a sub-Saturn class planet – 5 times bigger and 60 times heavier than Earth. 📏 Sub-Saturn planets are between the size of Neptune and Saturn. How was it discovered? 🔍 Discovered using PARAS-2, a high-end spectroscope on PRL’s 2.5m telescope at Mount Abu, Rajasthan. How far is TOI-6651b from us? 🌌 Located 690 light years away from the Sun. What is unique about its location? 🚀 It’s the 3rd most dense sub-Saturn class planet at the edge of the Neptunian desert (4th exoplanet discovered here). 🌑 Neptunian desert is a rare region with few planets orbiting close to their stars. What is its orbit duration? ⏳ It completes an orbit around its Sun-like host star in just 5 days! What impact does its close orbit have? ☀️ Due to strong irradiation, it may lose its gaseous atmosphere, leaving behind a rocky core. What is TOI-6651b’s composition? 🪨 Core is nearly 87% metal-rich, with iron making it rocky. The remaining mass is a low-density mix of hydrogen and helium. Is it habitable? 🌡 No. With a temperature of 1,500 K (about 1,200°C), TOI-6651b is too hot for life! Source - IE #GS3 #SnT

📍 Jagannath Temple, Odisha Why in News? Recently the CM of Odisha clarified that there is no secret chamber inside the treasury of the Jagannath Temple in Puri. Did you know? Yes! The Jagannath Temple is India's only circular temple. Who is worshipped here? 🙏 Lord Jagannath (an incarnation of Lord Krishna) with his elder brother Lord Balbhadra and younger sister Goddess Subhadra. Who built it? 👑 Built by King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Kachchhapaghata Dynasty (Eastern Ganga Dynasty) - 12th century. What is unique about its architecture? 🏛 Known for Kalinga style architecture, with curvilinear towers and intricate carvings of Hindu mythology. Materials used: Sandstone and laterite. Was it an inspiration for any modern buildings? Yes, its circular design inspired the Indian Parliament building. What is its importance in Hindu pilgrimage? 🌍 Known as the "White Pagoda," part of sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites: Puri (E) Rameshwaram (S) Dwarka (W) Badrinath (N) Source - IE #GS1 #AnC

🌍 International Gibbon Day - Spotlight on the Western Hoolock Gibbon 🐒 📜 Scientific Name: Hoolock hoolock 🌎 Habitat: From moist deciduous to evergreen forests 🌲 Arboreal Masters: Known for brachiation, can leap 10-12 meters between trees at speeds over 50 km/h! 🐒 💑 Unique Traits: The Western Hoolock Gibbon pairs for life, bond through "hook-o, hook-o" calls 🎶 that mark their territory from up to a km away! 🗣 🍃 Diet & Survival: Omnivorous but with habitat loss and hunting pressures, their numbers have dropped by 90% in the last 30 years. 🚨 ⚖️ Conservation Status: IUCN: EN CITES: Appendix I Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule 1 🏞 Hollangapar Gibbon Sanctuary: This sanctuary, the last stronghold for these apes in Assam, is home to Bengal slow lorises, 219 bird species, and rare mammals like the stump-tailed macaque and Indian elephants. 🌿 #GS3 #Environment

Museum of Valour 🇮🇳 📍 Why in News? 🔹The Defence Minister inaugurated the Major Ralengnao ‘Bob’ Khathing Museum of Valour in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, to honor his significant contributions to India's history and border security. 📅 Birth 🔹Born on February 28, 1912 (Ukhrul, Manipur) 🎖 Awards 🔹 Member of British Empire (MBE) for rallying Naga support against Japanese forces. 🔹 Military Cross (MC) ⚔️ What role did he play during WWII? 🔹 Joined the Indian Army in 1939, served in the British-led Victor Force guerrilla outfit, and later advised the SANCOL force against Japanese forces. 📜 How did he contribute to Tawang’s history? 🔹 In 1951, he was tasked with bringing Tawang under Indian administration. 🔹 Hoisted the Indian flag in Tawang on February 14, 1951, establishing an administrative setup. 🗺 What roles did he take on later? 🔹 Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Development Commissioner of Sikkim, Chief Secretary of Nagaland, and India’s Ambassador to Burma in 1975. Source - IE