UPSC Quiz – 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 156

Solution (a)

H9N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus, which causes human influenza as well as bird flu. The H9N2 subtype was isolated for the first time in Wisconsin, US in 1966 from turkey flocks. According to the US National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), H9N2 viruses are found worldwide in wild birds and are endemic in poultry in many areas. However, they are somewhat neglected. According to a recent report by NCBI researcher T P Peacock, H9N2 viruses could potentially play a major role in the emergence of the next influenza pandemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), with avian influenza viruses circulating in poultry, there is a risk for sporadic infection and small clusters of human cases due to exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments. Therefore, sporadic human cases are not unexpected.

H9N2 virus infections in humans are rare, but likely under-reported due to typically mild symptoms of the infections. Cases of human infection have been observed in Hong Kong, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Egypt. One case was detected in Oman recently. The first case globally was reported from Hong Kong in 1998. A total of 28 cases in China have been reported since December 2015. Cases continue to be reported mainly from mainland China and Hong Kong.

The virus has, however, spread extensively among poultry populations. Surveillance for influenza viruses in poultry in Bangladesh during 2008-2011 found H9N2 virus to be the predominant subtype. The virus was also identified in poultry populations in surveillance studies in Myanmar during 2014-16 and Burkina Faso in 2017.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-h9n2-avian-influenza-which-has-infected-indian-child-6213193/

Solution (b)

Beluṛ Maṭh is a monastery serving as the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. It is located on the west bank of Hooghly River, Belur, West Bengal, India and is one of the significant institutions in Kolkata. This temple is the heart of the Ramakrishna Movement. The temple is notable for its architecture that fuses Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist art motifs as a symbol of unity of all religions. In 2003 Belurmath railway station was also inaugurated which is dedicated to Belurmath temple.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-how-swami-vivekananda-became-the-messenger-of-indian-wisdom-to-the-west-6213107/

Solution (c)

CLIX is being held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, in collaboration with Masdar and the Zayed Future Energy Prize.

The Climate Innovation Exchange was launched in World Future Energy Summit, 2018. Since then it is being conducted on the side lines of the summit. 

Solution (d)

The initiative is led by Iran. 

Oman, India, China and Afghanistan are among the key participants.

UPSC Quiz – 2020: IAS Daily Current Affairs Quiz Day 156

Image Credits – BCCL (The Economic Times)

THINK!

• “Hormuz Peace Endeavor” (HOPE)

Source: Click here

Solution (c)

A traffic separation scheme or TSS is a maritime traffic-management route-system ruled by the International Maritime Organization or IMO. The traffic-lanes (or clearways) indicate the general direction of the ships in that zone; ships navigating within a TSS all sail in the same direction or they cross the lane in an angle as close to 90 degrees as possible.

TSSs are used in locations where there is a lot of traffic (busy shipping areas) where not regulating the traffic would lead to more accidents.