Potentially deadly fungus spreading rapidly in US health care facilities

Candida Auris (C. auris):

• It is a multi-drug resistant fungus that is capable of causing invasive infections in the human body.
• It was first identified in Japan in 2009.
• How is it contracted?
  • Most cases of the fungus have been reported in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes.
  • It is generally thought to be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or by person-to-person transmission.
  • People who are already suffering from other medical conditions, recent hospital stays, and invasive devices are most at risk of contracting the fungus.
• How does the fungus act on the body? There are two ways C. auris can affect the body,
  • The fungus can either live on a specific region, such as the skin, rectum, or mouth, in a process called “asymptomatic colonization,” where a patient has no symptoms but can spread it to other people.
  • It can enter the bloodstream or wounds, where it can cause severe invasive infections.
• Symptoms:
  • Its symptoms are often similar to those of other common diseases and hence diagnosis is difficult.
  • The most common symptoms of C.auris include fever and chills that don’t go away after treatment with antibiotics.
• Mortality Rate: It is estimated to be between 30-60%.
• Treatment:
  • Most C. auris infections are treatable with antifungal medications called echinocandins.
  • However, there has been a rise in cases resistant to the main three classes of antifungals available, making it harder to treat patients.

PM inaugurates ITU Area Office & Innovation Center

International Telecommunication Union (ITU):

• It is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies.
• It is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates between governments and private sector bodies with respect to global telecommunication and information communication technology (ICT) services.
• It was established in 1865 as International Telegraph Union.
• In 1947 the ITU became a specialized agency of the United Nations.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Membership: It has a membership of 193 countries and nearly 800 private sector entities and academic institutions.
• Functions:
  • allocate global radio spectrum and satellite orbits;
  • coordination and setting of technical standards related to telecommunication/ICT;
  • strive to improve access to ICTs in underserved communities worldwide;
• India and ITU: India has been an active member of the ITU since 1869 and has been a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952.

ITU Area office and Innovation Centre:

• The Area Office, which is fully funded by India, is located on the second floor of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) building at Mehrauli in New Delhi.
• It will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Iran.
• It will enhance coordination among nations and foster mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.

Anti-submarine craft INS Androth launched

INS Androth:

• It is an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC).
• It is built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata for the Indian Navy.
• Primary Role: To conduct anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, low-intensity maritime operations**,** and mine-laying operations.
• It is also capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance of coastal waters and various surface platforms and coordinated ASW operations with aircraft.
• Features:
  • It is about 77.6 meters long and 10.5 meters wide and requires a draught of only 2.7 meters.
  • It is propelled by three diesel-driven water jets.
  • It can attain a maximum speed of 25 knots.
  • It carries lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets and mines, a close-in weapon system (with a 30 mm gun), and 16.7 mm stabilized remote-controlled guns.
  • It will be fitted with hull-mounted sonar and a low-frequency variable depth sonar.

Set up online RTI portal within 3 months, SC tells HCs

Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005:

• It is a law enacted by the Parliament of India "to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens.
• The Right to Information is derived from our fundamental right of Expression under Article 19 of the Constitution of India.
• The Act applies to all States and Union Territories of India.
• Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen may request information from a "public authority" (a body of Government or "instrumentality of State") by making an application in writing or through electronic means.
• The information seeker is not required to give reasons for seeking information.
• Time Period for Supply of Information:
  • In the normal course, information to an applicant shall be supplied within 30 days from the receipt of the application by the public authority.
  • If the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it should be supplied within 48 hours.
• Public Information Officer (PIO): Every public authority shall designate some of its officers as They are responsible for giving information to a person who seeks information under the RTI Act.
• The Act also requires every public authority to computerize their records for wide dissemination and to proactively publish certain categories of information so that the citizens need minimum recourse to request information formally.
• Exemptions:
  • It also contains several exemptions which enable public authorities to deny requests for information. It ranges from the sovereignty and security of India to trade secrets.
  • Section 24 of the act exempts certain security and intelligence organizations from the purview of the act except the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations.

World Happiness Report: India ranked at 126th place

• It is an annual publication of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
• It is based on global survey data from people in more than 150 countries.
• It is based on people''s own assessment of their happiness, as well as economic and social data.
• The report considers six key factors: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and absence of corruption.
• It assigns a happiness score based on an average of data over a three-year period.
• Highlights of World Happiness Report 2023:
  • Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the sixth consecutive year.
  • India is ranked 126, ten places higher than its ranking of 136 in 2022. It remains below most neighboring counties, including Pakistan (108) and Sri Lanka (112).

United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

• It was launched in 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General.
• SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement.
• SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society.