TOPICS TO BE COVERED
• S JAISHANKAR’S VISIT TO MALDIVES
• MPOX OUTBREAK
• MCQs
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S JAISHANKAR’S VISIT TO MALDIVES
S Jaishankar visited Maldives-a first by any Indian minister since the new government in India has come to power. Jaishankar met Muizzu and his counterpart- Moosa Zameer.
SIGNIFICANCE:
The visit is being described as a ‘game changing’ visit.
WHY IS IT GAME CHANGING?
Muizzu came to power on the plank of India-Out campaign. His pro China & anti India policies had impacted India-Maldives relations negatively in 2023. But things seem to have changed now.
THE INDIA OUT CAMPAIGN
The "India Out" campaign is a recent phenomenon that has emerged in Maldives. It is primarily a political tool used by opposition groups in these countries to criticize their respective governments for perceived over-reliance on India.
KEY POINTS ABOUT THE INDIA OUT CAMPAIGN:
• Goal: To undermine the relationship between India and the target country by creating antiIndia sentiment.
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• Tactics: Often involves accusations of Indian interference in domestic politics, economic exploitation, and security threats.
• Impact: Can lead to economic repercussions, such as boycotts of Indian products and a decline in tourism.
ACTIVITIES DONE
• As per the Indian PM’s initiative- ‘Ek ped Maa k Naam’ & President Muizzu’s initiative of planting 5 million trees, a sapling was planted in Lonuziyaraayi park in Male.
• Two MoU’s were signed:
o India to train 1000 Maldivian civil servants from 2024-2029.
o UPI to be introduced in Maldives.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS INAUGURATED
• India funded project of water & sewerage network in 28 islands of Maldives. This was part of Urban development in Maldives.
• Addu detour link bridge project.
• Addu Reclamation & shore protection project.
• High impact Community Development Projects related with:
o Mental Health.
o Special Education
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o Speech Therapy
o Street Lighting
Jaishankar also visited Indian funded Great Male connectivity project which connects Male with adjoining islands of Villingili, Gulhifalhu & Thilafushi.
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MPOX OUTBREAK
The World Health Organisation, sounding its highest level of alarm, declared mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Wednesday.
IS IT THE FIRST TIME THIS DECLARATION IS ISSUED FOR MPOX?
This is the second time the infection has received the designation in as many years the outbreak between July 2022 and May 2023 was also declared as PHEIC.
WHY WAS THIS DECISION TAKEN?
The decision to sound the alarm was taken after an upsurge of cases reported from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries. At least 99,176 cases and 208 deaths due to mpox have been reported from 116 countries since 2022, according to data from the WHO.
ABOUT M POX
WHAT IS MONKEYPOX?
It is a viral disease.
HOW IT IS TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS?
An infected animal transmits the virus to humans through a bite or direct contact.
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HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED FROM HUMANS TO HUMANS?
Transmission happens only through close contact and by touching or sharing the clothes or bedding used by the patient, because the lesions usually have a high viral load. Transmission also extends throughout the course of the illness, till the lesions heal.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MONKEYPOX AND HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?
Symptoms include:
• Fever
• Rashes on the skin (appear on the face, inside palms and the body one to four days after fever.)
• Headache,
• Joint Ache
• Swelling of the lymph glands.
The incubation period for the disease the time from exposure to the virus to the manifestation of symptoms ranges from five to 21 days.
A NEW MPOX
An analysis of patients hospitalised between October and January in Kamituga, eastern Congo, suggests recent genetic mutations in Mpox are the result of its continued transmission in humans
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The lesions reported by most patients are milder and on the genitals, making the disease trickier to diagnose.
In previous outbreaks in Africa, lesions were mostly seen on the chest, hands and feet.
The new form seems to have a lower death rate.
CLADES OF MPOX
There are two kinds, or clades, of Mpox, which is related to smallpox and is endemic to Central and West Africa.
Clade 1 is more severe, and can kill up to 10% of people infected
Clade 2 triggered the 2022 outbreak; more than 99% of people infected survived.
Dr Mbala-Kingebeni and colleagues said they have identified a new form of Clade 1 that may be responsible for more than 240 cases and at least three deaths in Kamituga, a region with a significant transient population travelling elsewhere in Africa and beyond.
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MCQs
1. Consider the following points about the India Out Campaign and mark the correct ones:
1. It was a campaign run by the opposition parties in Maldives from 2018-2023.
2. It targeted over dependance on India.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 1 & 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (C)
2. The Great Male connectivity project connects Male to which of the following islands?
1. Villingili
2. Thilafushi
3. Uthuru Thila Falhu
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 1 & 2
(C) Only 1 & 3
(D) All of the above.
Ans. (B)
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3 Currently, which country is impacted by the M Pox virus the most?
(A) Cambodia
(B) Tunisia
(C) Democratic Republic of Congo
(D) None of the above.
Ans. (C)
4 Consider the following statements and mark the correct one:
1. MPox is a viral disease.
2. Headache & Joint ache are symptoms of M Pox virus.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 1 & 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (C)