Current Affair Category: Health

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬? Researchers at 𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 (VIT) identified antibiotic-producing bacteria in the 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐠𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, Nalanda, Bihar. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬? 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 are heat-loving microorganisms that thrive at high temperatures, generally around 45–70°C. Found in 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, deep-sea thermal vents and compost. Some produce antimicrobial compounds to compete with other microorganisms. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 […]

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀? On 𝟳 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, United Nations (UN) human rights experts urged 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 to ensure accountability, justice and effective remedies for Inuit women and girls subjected to forced contraception. The case highlights serious concerns relating to 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹 […]

Why in News? A new report by the Lancet Commission on interconnected catastrophic risks, launched at the World Health Summit in Berlin, has identified 17 interlinked threats to global health and human survival through 2100. The report urges governments to move beyond addressing individual health problems and adopt an integrated, interdisciplinary and preventive approach that […]

Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): “Forever Chemicals” Why in news?: Recent environmental monitoring and scientific studies across India have detected elevated levels of toxic PFAS contamination in groundwater, surface water, seawater, and sewage. This has raised urgent concerns regarding drinking water safety, marine ecosystems, and long-term public health risks. What are PFAS? Definition: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances […]

Why in News? The Supreme Court questioned the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over the proposed timeline for implementing Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FoPL) on packaged foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. Key Developments: The case concerns mandatory warning labels on packaged foods with high levels of nutrients associated with health risks. FSSAI proposed: 4 months for consultation and finalisation of […]

Why in News? The growing use of AI chatbots as the first source of emotional support has raised concerns about their role in mental-health situations. AI can offer instant, private and non-judgmental interaction, but it is not a substitute for trained mental-health professionals, particularly in serious or high-risk situations. What is the Core Issue? AI is increasingly moving […]

PCSK9 & VERVE-102 PCSK9 (Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9): A protein that regulates LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels. PCSK9 binds to LDL receptors on liver cells and promotes their degradation. Fewer LDL receptors → less LDL removed from blood → higher LDL-C. VERVE-102 VERVE-102 is an experimental gene-editing therapy designed to reduce PCSK9 production. Developed by Verve Therapeutics. Uses CRISPR-based gene editing delivered to liver cells. It aims […]

Why in News? Modern medicine possesses vast clinical knowledge, but bridging the gap between this expertise and patients who need it immediately remains challenging due to the limited number of trained clinicians and healthcare infrastructure. For India, where healthcare capacity is expanding alongside an increasingly complex disease burden, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to scale medical […]

Why in news?: A fresh outbreak of the Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) during the monsoon season in western India—particularly in Gujarat and Rajasthan—has claimed the lives of 22 children. This has prompted the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to deploy the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to assist state health authorities with […]

UPSC GS2 – Health + GS3 – Science & Tech Why in the News?  Michigan, USA is facing its largest recorded cyclosporiasis outbreak with 11,234 confirmed cases and 2 deaths as of August 2025. Response: In response, Michigan State University’s Rose Lab is developing wastewater surveillance to detect Cyclospora cayetanensis and track outbreak hotspots. What […]