Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Watch, but do not wait: On the Ebola outbreak

Watch, but do not wait: On the Ebola outbreak

Extra caution should guide international responses to Ebola outbreak (प्रकोप)

With unusual alacrity (तत्परता), WHO (विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (A formal declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response) over the Ebola outbreak in central Africa, not even waiting for the advice (सलाह, परामर्श) of an emergency committee (आपातकालीन समिति) of expert (विशेषज्ञ, जानकार) panellists (member of a panel, participant, speaker), as is (exactly as it is, typically, in the present state) convention. WHO has nevertheless (फिर भी, तथापि) been feted (सम्मानित करना, सराहना करना) for swift (तेज़, त्वरित, शीघ्र) action by global health experts, given (को देखते हुए, ध्यान में रखते हुए) that there are several unknowns (अज्ञात बातें, अनिश्चितताएँ) arising from (उत्पन्न होना, से पैदा होना) the current (वर्तमान, मौजूदा) strain (प्रकार, उपप्रकार) responsible for the outbreak — the uncommon (असामान्य, दुर्लभ) Bundibugyo (A specific rare strain of the Ebola virus, originally identified in the Bundibugyo District of Uganda) strain. This strain has caused fewer outbreaks in the past (previously, formerly, historically) and the efficacy (effectiveness, success, potency, usefulness) of usually effective (successful, productive, efficacious, fruitful) countermeasures (preventive measure, action taken to offset another, defensive step, safeguard) such as (for example, like, for instance) vaccines (biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease; immunization, inoculation) (highly effective against the common Zaire strain) and other therapies (treatment, remedy, cure, healing method), are currently untested (unproven, untried, experimental, unverified) with Bundibugyo. The new Ebola outbreak was notified in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. It is said to be smaller and confined to a limited cross-border (happening or involving people, resources, or activities moving across the border between two countries; international, trans-border) region between the two nations, but there are still concerns (anxiety, worry, apprehension, fear) that because of the ongoing (continuous, in progress, continuing, uninterrupted) conflict (dispute, fight, war, battle) and displacement (the enforced departure of people from their homes, typically because of war, persecution, or natural disaster; dislocation) in the region, cases might go undetected (unnoticed, unseen, undiscovered, hidden), leading to (result in, cause, bring about, give rise to) a spread, and impairing (hinder, damage, hamper, weaken, undermine) access to care (the ability to obtain medical treatment, healthcare availability). According to WHO, as on (as of, at the date of, effective from) May 16, 2026, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected (believed to exist, doubtful, unconfirmed, potential) cases, and 80 suspected deaths have been reported in the DRC’s Ituri province (region, state, territory, district). Two lab-confirmed cases (including one death) with no apparent (obvious, clear, evident, visible) link to each other have been reported in Kampala, Uganda. WHO has listed a clutch (a group, a small number, handful, collection) of factors — high positivity rate of the initial samples (eight positives among 13 samples); the confirmation of cases in Kampala; increasing trends (tendency, pattern, direction, movement) in syndromic (symptom-based, clinical-pattern, relating to a syndrome) reporting of suspected cases; and clusters (group, batch, collection, gathering) of deaths across Ituri province — that point towards (indicate, suggest, signify, hint at) a potentially (possibly, probably, conceivably, likely) much larger outbreak than what is being detected.

At any rate (whatever happens, in any case, anyway, regardless), WHO has rightly taken a risk-averse (relating to someone who does not want to take risks; cautious, conservative, careful) pathway, when dealing with a condition (disease, illness, ailment, medical problem) that has a 50% fatality rate (the ratio of deaths to the total number of people diagnosed with a disease; death rate, mortality rate). While it says that mortality rates can range between 25% and 50% depending on the viral strain (genetic variant of a virus, subtype, mutation), access (approach, entry, the right to obtain, availability) to medical care (healthcare, medical treatment, clinical support), and speed of treatment, there are unknowns this time arising out of the Bundibugyo strain. Ebola is contagious (infectious, communicable, transmittable, spreadable), can spread from person to person, with exposure (subjecting to a risk/virus, vulnerability, contact) to body fluids (biological fluids like blood, saliva, sweat, etc.; biological liquids) and contaminated (polluted, infected, tainted, corrupted) surfaces, and can be vicious; (brutal, dangerous, deadly, ferocious, severe) the horrific (dreadful, terrifying, appalling, horrendous) 2014-16 outbreak which swept across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, resulted in over 28,600 reported cases and 11,325 deaths. By issuing the highest level of global alert (warning, notification, alarm, signal) early on, WHO has solicited (ask for, request, seek, appeal for) the co-operation of the world in handling the crises. Outbreak control activities at this stage must unfailingly (always, without fail, consistently, reliably) include effective patient and contact tracing (it is defined as the identification and followup of persons who may have come into contact with a person infected with the virus), intensive support for every patient, safe and dignified (respectful, solemn, honorable, proper) burials (funeral, entombment, interment, laying to rest), vaccinations (inoculation, immunization, preventive shot), if they work, and social mobilisation (a process of bringing together all societal and personal influences to raise awareness and facilitate behavioral change to prevent disease transmission) to spread information about the disease among the public (people, citizens, general population, community).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.outbreak (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रकोप
English Meaning - sudden occurrence of a disease, sudden appearance; upsurge, flare-up, eruption, epidemic, outburst, breakout.

2.alacrity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - तत्परता
English Meaning - eagerness, readiness, promptness, willingness; enthusiasm, briskness, swiftness.

3.World Health Organization (WHO) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन
English Meaning - a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.

4.advice (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सलाह, परामर्श
English Meaning - guidance, recommendation, suggestion, counsel.

5.emergency committee (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आपातकालीन समिति
English Meaning - a formally constituted group of experts organized by WHO to advise on declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

6.expert (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विशेषज्ञ, जानकार
English Meaning - specialist, authority, professional.

7.nevertheless (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - फिर भी, तथापि
English Meaning - in spite of that, however, nonetheless, yet.

8.fete (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सम्मानित करना, सराहना करना
English Meaning - celebrate, glorify, exalt, acclaim, admire, commend, praise.

9.swift (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - तेज़, त्वरित, शीघ्र
English Meaning - quick, rapid, fast, speedy, prompt.

10.given (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - को देखते हुए, ध्यान में रखते हुए
English Meaning - considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.

11.unknowns (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अज्ञात बातें, अनिश्चितताएँ
English Meaning - uncertain things, mysterious things, unresolved issues, variables.

12.arise from (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - उत्पन्न होना, से पैदा होना
English Meaning - originate from, result from, stem from, proceed from.

13.current (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - वर्तमान, मौजूदा
English Meaning - present, ongoing, existing, prevailing.

14.strain (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रकार, उपप्रकार
English Meaning - variant, mutant, form, subtype (of a virus).

15.uncommon (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - असामान्य, दुर्लभ
English Meaning - rare, unusual, atypical, infrequent.

16.watch, but do not wait (phrase)

English Meaning - keep a close eye on the situation, but take immediate preventive action without delaying.

17.watch (verb)

English Meaning - keep an eye on, monitor, observe, track.

18.Ebola (noun)

English Meaning - Ebola virus disease (EVD), a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans; a highly contagious viral disease.

19.Public Health Emergency of International Concern (noun)

English Meaning - A formal declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.

20.panellist (noun)

English Meaning - member of a panel, participant, speaker.

21.as is (phrase)

English Meaning - exactly as it is, typically, in the present state.

22.convention (noun)

English Meaning - norm, practice, custom, tradition, standard.

23.Bundibugyo (noun)

English Meaning - A specific rare strain of the Ebola virus, originally identified in the Bundibugyo District of Uganda.

24.in the past (phrase)

English Meaning - previously, formerly, historically.

25.efficacy (noun)

English Meaning - effectiveness, success, potency, usefulness.

26.effective (adjective)

English Meaning - successful, productive, efficacious, fruitful.

27.countermeasure (noun)

English Meaning - preventive measure, action taken to offset another, defensive step, safeguard.

28.such as (phrase)

English Meaning - for example, like, for instance.

29.vaccine (noun)

English Meaning - biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease; immunization, inoculation.

30.Zaire strain (noun)

English Meaning - The most deadly and commonly identified strain of the Ebola virus, originating from Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo).

31.therapy (noun)

English Meaning - treatment, remedy, cure, healing method.

32.untested (adjective)

English Meaning - unproven, untried, experimental, unverified.

33.cross-border (adjective)

English Meaning - happening or involving people, resources, or activities moving across the border between two countries; international, trans-border.

34.concern (noun)

English Meaning - anxiety, worry, apprehension, fear.

35.ongoing (adjective)

English Meaning - continuous, in progress, continuing, uninterrupted.

36.conflict (noun)

English Meaning - dispute, fight, war, battle.

37.displacement (noun)

English Meaning - the enforced departure of people from their homes, typically because of war, persecution, or natural disaster; dislocation.

38.undetected (adjective)

English Meaning - unnoticed, unseen, undiscovered, hidden.

39.lead to (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - result in, cause, bring about, give rise to.

40.impair (verb)

English Meaning - hinder, damage, hamper, weaken, undermine.

41.access to care (phrase)

English Meaning - the ability to obtain medical treatment, healthcare availability.

42.as on (phrase)

English Meaning - as of, at the date of, effective from.

43.suspected (adjective)

English Meaning - believed to exist, doubtful, unconfirmed, potential.

44.province (noun)

English Meaning - region, state, territory, district.

45.apparent (adjective)

English Meaning - obvious, clear, evident, visible.

46.clutch (noun)

English Meaning - a group, a small number, handful, collection.

47.trend (noun)

English Meaning - tendency, pattern, direction, movement.

48.syndromic (adjective)

English Meaning - symptom-based, clinical-pattern, relating to a syndrome.

49.cluster (noun)

English Meaning - group, batch, collection, gathering.

50.point towards (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - indicate, suggest, signify, hint at.

51.potentially (adverb)

English Meaning - possibly, probably, conceivably, likely.

52.at any rate (phrase)

English Meaning - whatever happens, in any case, anyway, regardless.

53.risk-averse (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to someone who does not want to take risks; cautious, conservative, careful.

54.condition (noun)

English Meaning - disease, illness, ailment, medical problem.

55.fatality rate (noun)

English Meaning - the ratio of deaths to the total number of people diagnosed with a disease; death rate, mortality rate.

56.mortality rate (noun)

English Meaning - death rate, fatality rate, number of deaths.

57.viral strain (noun)

English Meaning - genetic variant of a virus, subtype, mutation.

58.access (noun)

English Meaning - approach, entry, the right to obtain, availability.

59.medical care (noun)

English Meaning - healthcare, medical treatment, clinical support.

60.arise out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - result from, stem from, issue from, proceed from.

61.contagious (adjective)

English Meaning - infectious, communicable, transmittable, spreadable.

62.exposure (noun)

English Meaning - subjecting to a risk/virus, vulnerability, contact.

63.body fluids (noun)

English Meaning - biological fluids like blood, saliva, sweat, etc.; biological liquids.

64.contaminated (adjective)

English Meaning - polluted, infected, tainted, corrupted.

65.vicious (adjective)

English Meaning - brutal, dangerous, deadly, ferocious, severe.

66.horrific (adjective)

English Meaning - dreadful, terrifying, appalling, horrendous.

67.sweep across (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - spread quickly, engulf, overwhelm, cover.

68.alert (noun)

English Meaning - warning, notification, alarm, signal.

69.solicit (verb)

English Meaning - ask for, request, seek, appeal for.

70.unfailingly (adverb)

English Meaning - always, without fail, consistently, reliably.

71.contact tracing (noun)

English Meaning - it is defined as the identification and followup of persons who may have come into contact with a person infected with the virus.

72.dignified (adjective)

English Meaning - respectful, solemn, honorable, proper.

73.burial (noun)

English Meaning - funeral, entombment, interment, laying to rest.

74.vaccination (noun)

English Meaning - inoculation, immunization, preventive shot.

75.social mobilisation (noun)

English Meaning - a process of bringing together all societal and personal influences to raise awareness and facilitate behavioral change to prevent disease transmission.

76.the public (noun)

English Meaning - people, citizens, general population, community.