The recent confirmation of Norovirus infection in two schoolchildren in Kerala has brought the infectious disease back into focus. Norovirus is a member of a group of viruses known to cause inflammation in the stomach and intestines, leading to severe vomiting and diarrhea. The contagion is also notorious for its resilience, surviving in environments up to 60°C and proving resistant to many common disinfectants.
The Nature of Norovirus
According to health officials, Norovirus can spread rapidly if necessary precautions are not in place. The typical mode of transmission is through contaminated food or water, with the virus spreading via the fecal-oral route. Despite its hardiness against high temperatures, simple disinfection methods like steaming food or chlorinating water do not eliminate the virus. It also shows resistance to many standard hand sanitizers.
Treatment of Norovirus
No specific treatment exists for eradicating the virus. However, standard medications for diarrhea and vomiting can assist in managing and eventually eliminating the illness.
In other news, legalities around medical termination of pregnancies in India have recently seen changes. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, permitting the termination of pregnancies up to 24 weeks from the previous limit of 20 weeks, has been put into effect.
Changes to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021
A landmark decision by the Bombay High Court allowed a married woman to terminate her 33-week pregnancy on grounds of severe fetal abnormalities. This case stands as an example of exceptions permitted under the amended act beyond the 24-week gestational stage when serious fetal irregularities are detected.
On the international front, India will likely see an improved ranking in future Global Gender Gap Reports. The World Economic Forum (WEF) agreed to revise criteria by including participation of Indian women at the panchayat (local governance) level.
Incorporation of Panchayat-Level Participation in Global Gender Gap Reports
Changes in WEF’s evaluation system arose after India pointed out flaws in the existing ranking mechanism. Until now, the forum’s gender gap assessment covered four major areas: economic participation, political participation, health, and education. The inclusion of 1.4 million women from the Indian panchayat system will ensure broader representation in these assessments.
Lastly, the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar (SCBAPP) 2023 was announced on January 23, 2023.
Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2023
The SCBAPP is an annual accolade recognizing invaluable contribution and selfless service in disaster management. In 2023, the award recipients in the Institutional category include the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and Lunglei Fire Station (LFS), Mizoram, both being acknowledged for their excellent work in Disaster Management. The award brings with it a cash prize of Rs. 51 lakh and a certificate for institutions, or Rs. 5 lakh and a certificate for an individual.
