Prelims Focus – 9th May 2024

Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) 

In News: Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) or Indian Nino may emerge for the second consecutive year in the latter half of 2024.

• It is a climate pattern affecting the Indian Ocean and it affects irregular oscillations of sea floor temperatures .
• During a high quality section, heat waters are driven to the Western a part of the Indian Ocean, while cold deep waters are introduced up to the floor in the Eastern Indian Ocean.
• This pattern is reversed at some stage in the poor phase of the IOD.
• Impact: The IOD impacts the local climate causing heavy rains and/or droughts in Africa and Australia. 
  • The related sea-stage modifications can also result in multiplied threats of coastal flooding and related impacts.
  • A high quality IOD can help rainfall in the Indian subcontinent and along the African coastline, while decreasing rainfall in Australia, south-east Asia, and Indonesia. 
• How it influences India:  A high quality IOD can raise the overall performance of India’s southwest monsoon, relying on when it develops.
  • For instance, in 2019, a sturdy IOD event that developed for the duration of the past due monsoon season compensated for a 30 percent rainfall deficit in June
  • The development IOD will probably enhance the Indian agriculture sector.
  • Also, it is likely to recharge reservoirs and other water resources, wherein the storage level is precarious.

West Nile Fever

In News: Kerala’s health department has reported West Nile fever cases.

• West Nile Virus (WNV) is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the circle of relatives Flaviviridae.
• The single-stranded RNA virus originated in birds and is propagated via the chew of inflamed Culex mosquitoes among human beings and animals. 
• The possibilities of human-to-human transmission are low.
• It normally impacts adults and was first detected in Uganda in 1937. In Kerala, it was first detected in 2011.
• The WNV can cause a fatal neurological disease in humans, but, most of the individuals who are inflamed by it can not show any signs and symptoms. 
• WNV is majorly located in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia.
• There is not any vaccine available for the contamination as a result of the West Nile virus.

Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)

In News: The CDSCO now has the exclusive authority to issue manufacturing licences for new drugs intended for export, taking away this responsibility from state governments in response to increased international scrutiny of drugs made in India.

• The CDSCO is India’s regulatory authority for the medical devices industry, operating under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. 
• It supervises the import, production, sale, and distribution of medical devices in the country, ensuring they meet safety and quality standards. 
• The CDSCO operates within the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. 
• The DCGI is the leader of the CDSCO, based in New Delhi, responsible for approving new drugs, conducting clinical trials, setting standards for drugs, overseeing the quality of imported drugs, and coordinating with State Drug Control Organizations.

Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA)

In News: A new gene editing technique called EDIT-101 has been able to restore vision in some patients with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a type of blindness. This marks the first time gene therapy has been used to treat children born with this condition.

• Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) is a rare genetic eye disorder that affects the retina, the tissue at the back of the eye responsible for detecting light and colour. 
• Typically diagnosed at birth or in early infancy, LCA causes severe vision impairment or blindness, often accompanied by other eye issues like nystagmus, enophthalmos, and photophobia. 
• Symptoms of LCA can vary depending on the specific genetic mutation, but commonly include night blindness, decreased visual acuity, and reduced peripheral vision. 
• Some individuals with LCA may also develop cataracts or other eye abnormalities as they age. LCA is caused by mutations in over 20 different genes, many of which play a role in the function of photoreceptor cells in the retina. 

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