·       It can also cause infection after transplantation in case infected seedlings are transplanted.

·       It is caused by the fungus Fusarium verticillioides, a soil-seed borne pathogen which spreads the infection through the root of the plant, and eventually leads to the colonisation of the stem base.

·       Thin plants with yellowish green leaves and pale green flag leaves.

·       Drying seedlings at early tilling and reduced tilling and drying leaves at late infection.

·       Partially filled grains, sterile, or empty grains for surviving plant at maturity.

·       In the seedbed, infected seedlings with lesions on roots die which may die before or after transplanting.

·       Seeds are also treated with fungicides such as Sprint 75 WS (carbendazim + mancozeb) before sowing.

·       Both Trichoderma harzianum and Sprint 75 WS are the chemical treatments which are harmful for the soil, and can be toxic for consumers of the rice.

·       The fungicide carbendazim is already banned in Punjab because it leaves behind high residues.

·       Trichoderma asperellum is a biocontrol agent developed by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana of Punjab to combat the disease.

·       Rafah – It is located in Gaza Strip, which is not part of any country.

·       According to the United Nations, more than 1.4 million people are currently in Rafah.

·       Gaza borders the Mediterranean Sea to its west and Israel to its east.

·       Recently the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said they had launched an operation in Rafah, to reportedly target Hamas.

·       Dar es Salaam – It is the commercial capital and largest city of Tanzania.

·       It escaped from the Cyclone Hidaya recently which made landfall on Mafia Island near it.

·       Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is the apex food regulator of India under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

·       FSSAI have the responsibility of ensuring compliance of Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 rules and regulations.

·       The Food Authority shall consist of a Chairperson and twenty-two members out of which one-third shall be women.

·       The FSSAI’s scientific panel on pesticide residues assesses data from the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB & RC) and recommends MRLs after a risk assessment.

·       The CIB & RC is a committee under the Ministry of Agriculture that regulates the manufacturing, import, transport, and storage of pesticides.

·       When there isn’t enough haemoglobin, the body’s red blood cells don’t function properly and they last shorter periods of time, so there are fewer healthy red blood cells traveling in the bloodstream.

·       Since thalassemia is passed from parents to children, it is very hard to prevent.

·       International Thalassemia Day serves as a crucial platform to emphasize the importance of disease prevention, raise awareness, sensitize stakeholders, promote early detection, and ensure quality care for those affected by thalassemia.

·       Theme for this year “Empowering Lives, Embracing Progress: Equitable and Accessible Thalassemia Treatment for All”.

·       Scenario in India – There are almost 1 lakh Thalassemia patients in the country, with approximately 10,000 new cases reported each year.

·       Thalassemia testing in the existing reproductive and child health (RCH) is not mandatory.

·       Recently Union Health Secretary has advocated for inclusion of compulsory Thalassemia testing in the existing reproductive and child health (RCH) programs under National Health Mission.

·       Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria, presents symptoms such as high fever, stomach pain, weakness, and gastrointestinal disturbances.

·       Typhoid Fever Diagnosis – Traditionally involves isolating the bacteria from blood or bone marrow samples through culture tests.

·       However, due to practical challenges such as time consumption and resource requirements, the Widal test has become widely adopted in India for its convenience.

·       Widal Test – Is a rapid blood test commonly used in India to diagnose typhoid fever caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria.

·       It detects antibodies produced by the body against the typhoid bacteria.

·       It is inexpensive, doesn’t require special infrastructure and gives quick results.

Limitations of the Widal Test:

·       Inaccuracy – A single positive Widal test result does not definitively confirm typhoid infection, while a negative result does not rule it out.

·       Antibodies from other infections can lead to false positives.

·       Misinterpretation – Areas with high typhoid burden may have existing antibodies in the blood, making interpretation difficult.

·       Antibiotic Interference – Prior antibiotic use can affect antibody levels, leading to false negatives.

·       Cost and Overuse – The test itself costs a few hundred rupees, but patients often face additional costs due to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions based on a single Widal test.

·       Antimicrobial Resistance – The overuse of antibiotics due to inaccurate diagnoses is a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a serious public health threat.