Current Affair Category: Health

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 […]

Why in News? A major three-year study published in the scientific journal Gut Microbes has created the first-ever reference database of the gut microbiome across South Asia. Led by researchers from India and the US, the study reveals that changes in the gut bacteria of urbanizing Indians—driven by processed foods rather than genetics—help explain the […]

India’s First Dengue Vaccine Approval: Regulatory Milestone: The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved Qdenga (TAK-003), developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, making it the country’s first authorized dengue vaccine. Target Audience: Approved for individuals aged 4 to 60 years, addressing a critical gap in managing the nation’s fast-growing mosquito-borne disease burden. Mechanism & […]

Cyclosporiasis Outbreak (GS Paper II: Health/GS Paper III: Science & Tech) Context: A major surge of Cyclosporiasis cases has been reported across the US (particularly in Michigan and Ohio). Key Trigger: Contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from Mexico and served at specific food chains. About Cyclosporiasis: Pathogen: Caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Transmission: […]

Why in the News? White Gut Disease (also known as White Feces Disease) is in the news because of a recent outbreak in shrimp ponds across Andhra Pradesh. White Gut Disease (WGD), commonly known as White Feces Syndrome (WFS), continues to be a major health challenge in the global shrimp aquaculture sector, posing a severe […]

Why in news? Assam has become the first state in India to commercially produce Matcha tea, with production commencing at the Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district. The first commercially produced batch of Matcha tea was sold at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre for Rs 3,000, reflecting encouraging market interest in the […]

Why in news? The Centre has granted in-principle approval to the NPPA to allow a price increase for two essential chemotherapy drugs: Cisplatin and Carboplatin. This move, executed under Para 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), aims to resolve a nationwide supply crunch that has disrupted cancer treatment protocols at major hospitals. The […]