Hindi English Translation || Editorial || More and better testing: On viral disease outbreaks and State responses

More and better testing: On viral disease outbreaks and State responses

States must develop capacity to conduct testing and sequencing of viruses

Since the Zika outbreak began on June 20, when the first case was reported from Pune, confirmed cases have been slowly but steadily (लगातार) rising. As of August first week, Maharashtra has reported 88 confirmed cases. Pune city, the epicentre, alone accounts for 73 cases, while six are from Pune rural. Of the total number reported so far, at 37, pregnant women alone account for half the number of confirmed infections. Though rare, people with Zika virus infection run a risk of suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurological disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks part of the peripheral (परिधीय) nervous system. But a more harmful effect is seen in pregnant women who run a risk of giving birth to babies with a smaller than average head size, called microcephaly, and other neurological impairments (हानि, विकार, विकृति). As in a January 2023 paper in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, a meta-analysis of babies born to 1,548 pregnant women infected (संक्रमित करना) with the Zika virus, from 13 studies in Brazil between 2015 and 2017, found the absolute risk of microcephaly to be 6.6% either at birth or during follow-up. Babies also had 18.7% absolute risk of suffering from functional neurological abnormalities, and a relatively smaller risk of neuroimaging, ophthalmic (नेत्र संबंधी) and auditory (श्रवण संबंधी) abnormalities (असामान्यता). There was also a significant risk of premature birth (10.5%), low birth weight and small for gestational age (16.2%). Less known is the risk of sexual transmission of the virus by infected men due to the presence of potentially infectious virus in their semen for at least two months. It is hence important for infected men, especially those planning a family, to be made aware of the risk as well as recommend measures to prevent viral transmission to women for at least three months, as in the U.S. CDC guidelines.

Given the harmful effects of the virus, it is shocking that the Pune-based ICMR lab ramped up testing only after the publication of news about the Pune Municipal Corporation planning to send samples to a government medical college instead to cut the delay in testing. As Kerala just demonstrated in the latest outbreak of the Nipah virus, and as Gujarat learnt it the hard way in the ongoing Chandipura virus outbreak and acute encephalitis syndrome cases, it is becoming increasingly important and necessary that States develop the capacity to conduct high-quality testing and sequencing of viruses that cause frequent and deadly outbreaks (प्रकोप). From the time that the first suspected (संदिग्ध व्यक्ति) case is observed, the reduction in the lead time to test results is the key to instituting timely public health responses that can limit the virus spread and stop an outbreak. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the advantages of decentralised testing and sequencing, and this should be replicated (दोहराना, प्रतिकृति बनाना) for every pathogen that causes deadly outbreaks.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Steadily (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning - लगातार
English Meaning - In a regular, even, and continuous manner.

2.Peripheral (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - परिधीय
English Meaning - Relating to or situated on the edge or periphery of something; of secondary or minor importance.

3.Impairment (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - हानि, विकार, विकृति
English Meaning - The state or fact of being weakened or damaged, especially in terms of physical or mental function.

4.Abnormality (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - असामान्यता
English Meaning - The state or quality of being abnormal or unusual; an irregularity or deviation from the norm.

5.Ophthalmic (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - नेत्र संबंधी
English Meaning - Relating to the eye and its diseases.

6.Suspect (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - संदिग्ध व्यक्ति
English Meaning - To have an idea or impression of the existence, presence, or truth of something without certain proof.

7.Replicate (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - दोहराना, प्रतिकृति बनाना
English Meaning - To make an exact copy or reproduction of something; to repeat.

8.Outbreak (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रकोप
English Meaning - A sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease.

9.Infect (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - संक्रमित करना
English Meaning - To contaminate with a disease-causing organism.

10.Auditory (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - श्रवण संबंधी
English Meaning - Relating to the sense of hearing.