TNPSC Current Affairs March 16, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs March 16, 2020 (16/03/2020)

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Topic: Public Awareness and General Administration

OneHealth concept

The concept of ‘One Health’, which recognises that health of human beings is connected to health of animals and environment, is gaining importance as most of the contagious diseases affecting humans are zoonotic (animal to man origin) in nature.

The concept of One Health can be effectively implemented for reducing incidence of emerging zoonotic threats like COVID-19.

What is OneHealth concept?

One Health is the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally, to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment, as defined by the One Health Initiative Task Force.

One Health model facilitates interdisciplinary approach in disease control so as to control emerging and existing zoonotic threats.

What are common One Health issues?

One Health issues include zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and food security, vector-borne diseases, environmental contamination, and other health threats shared by people, animals, and the environment. Even the fields of chronic disease, mental health, injury, occupational health, and noncommunicable diseases can benefit from a One Health approach involving collaboration across disciplines and sectors.

Significance of the model:

One Health model is a globally accepted model for research on epidemiology, diagnosis and control of zoonotic diseases. The WHO is very effectively addressing emerging issues of antimicrobial resistance through One Health research.

All the developing countries are in the process of promoting One Health research for developing a sustainable disease control system.

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Topic: International Events

What is ExoMars?

Launch of ExoMars rover delayed to 2022.

About the rover:

The European-built Rosalind Franklin rover, named for the famed British chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose work contributed to DNA research, recently passed final pre-launch thermal and vacuum tests at an Airbus facility in Toulouse, France.

Rosalind Franklin is the first European Mars rover.

About ExoMars:

It is a joint endeavour between ESA and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos. The primary goal of the ExoMars programme is to address the question of whether life has ever existed on Mars.

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Topic: International Events

Stafford Act

US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency in the country invoking the Stafford Act.

Key facts:

As per this act, the federal government contributes about 75% to the cost of relief for states.

The Act authorises the President to provide financial and other assistance to local and state governments, certain private nonprofit organisations, and individuals following declaration as a Stafford Act Emergency (limited) or Major Disaster (more severe).

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Topic: Profile of States

Symbiosis – Country’s first women-only medical college

Symbiosis to set up country’s first women-only medical college. It will be called the Symbiosis Medical College for Women (SMCW).

It will be the first medical college in the country to offer free medical education. The college will be located at the campus of the Symbiosis International University at Lavale, Pune.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

University for Peace (UPEACE)

It is an intergovernmental organization with university status. Established by treaty at the United Nations General Assembly in 1980 and having its main campus in Costa Rica.

The University has the unique status of not only being a dedicated institution for higher education in Peace and Conflict studies, but also an international treaty body organization mandated by the United Nations General Assembly.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

World Sleep Day – March 13

It is observed annually on the Friday before the March Equinox or the northern hemisphere vernal equinox.

It is an annual event organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Sleep Society. The first World Sleep Day was held on 14 March 2008.

Theme of the year 2020 is ‘Better Sleep, Better Life, Better Planet’.

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Topic: Public Awareness and General Administration

Corona Virus: India declares COVID-19 as “notified Disaster”

With more than 80 confirmed COVID-19 cases, India has declared “notified Disaster”. With this, the SDRF funds are to be temporarily used for supply of food, medical care and water for patients in quarantine camps.

Why the Notification?

Under Disaster Management Act, 2005, the SDRF funds shall be used only for cyclone, earthquake, drought, landslide, hailstorm, cloudburst, avalanche, frost, pest attack and cold waves.

Critical Medical conditions or pandemic situations were not under the notified disaster lists. Therefore, the Central Government has included COVID-19 outbreak under notified Disaster.

This will now enable the state government to utilize the funds for treating Corona Virus.

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Topic: Current socio-economic issues

Herd immunity

Herd immunity is when a large number of people are vaccinated against a disease, lowering the chances of others being infected by it. When a sufficient percentage of a population is vaccinated, it slows the spread of disease. It is also referred to as community immunity or herd protection.

Key characteristics:

Herd protection of the unvaccinated occurs when a sufficient proportion of the group is immune.

The decline of disease incidence is greater than the proportion of individuals immunized because vaccination reduces the spread of an infectious agent by reducing the amount and/or duration of pathogen shedding by vaccines, retarding transmission.

Why in News? The UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser has said a degree of herd immunity will help the UK population as Covid-19 spreads.