Current Affair Category: Health

Why in News? The United States, under the Donald Trump administration, is moving to virtually disband the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the primary foreign aid arm of the US government. This decision will halt critical healthcare initiatives like the Breaking the Barriers (BTB) tuberculosis elimination program in India, particularly in Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, […]

Why in News? A recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Translational Virology and AIDS Research (ICMR-NITVAR) and Mizoram University has shed light on the success of HIV self-testing (HIVST) in Mizoram. The initiative helped many young people get tested for the first time in the state, which has the highest […]

Why in News ? In Andhra Pradesh, the government declared Badampudi (Eluru district), Velpuru, Kanuru (West Godavari), and Gampalagudem (NTR district) as biosecurity zones to contain the bird flu outbreak. This includes: Restricting the movement of birds and poultry products. Conducting disinfection drives. Monitoring the situation to ensure public and animal health. What are Biosecurity […]

Community Mental Health for Journalists: Impact of Stories on Communities: Journalists must consider the emotional and mental impact of their reporting on readers and the communities they write about. It’s crucial to think about the consequences of the story on the affected individuals and communities, ensuring that the narrative does not exacerbate trauma or distress. […]

Why in News ? On January 15, IIT-Madras Director V. Kamakoti claimed that cow urine has antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties during a visit to a goshala in Chennai. He referenced five peer-reviewed papers supporting the “anti-infective” benefits of cow urine, which sparked controversy and went viral on social media. Papers Cited by Dr. Kamakoti: […]

Why in news ? Following a reported outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, in Pune, with 73 cases so far, the Union Health Ministry has now sent a team to the city to assess the situation. What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome? Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune neurological disorder in which a person’s immune […]

Why in News ? Recent wildfires in Southern California have brought into light the use of pink fire retardant as authorities deploy aerial resources to combat the flames.  What is Pink Fire Retardant? Pink fire retardant is a chemical mixture used to control or slow the spread of wildfires. The most commonly used brand in […]

Synthetic Drugs: Synthetic drugs are chemically manufactured substances that mimic the effects of natural drugs but are produced in laboratories rather than being derived from natural sources. They can have potent effects on the brain and body and are often created to circumvent drug regulations or produce more intense effects than their natural counterparts. Types […]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized GLP-1 receptor agonists as an effective class of drugs for managing obesity. These drugs mimic the action of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) hormone, which helps regulate both appetite and blood sugar levels. Here’s a detailed overview of these drugs and others that are approved for weight management: […]

An unseen health crisis: India’s poor air quality its impacts: the topics was published in the HINDU-25/11/24 Why it is important: GS 3/GS1 – Impacts of Air pollution on Social/ Economic/Health India’s poor air quality has been silently affecting communities for decades, with lethal results. “Air pollution is the biggest environmental risk to health, even […]