India Revokes Ban on Export of Hydroxychloroquine

Why in News

Recently, India revoked its earlier ban on the export of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which is being used to treat Covid-19.

Key Points

• U.S. Pressure: The ban on HCQ was revoked by India after U.S. President said that India could invite “retaliation” if it withheld supplies of HCQ.
  
  • Earlier, the government of India placed HCQ on a restricted items list, and later put a blanket ban on any export of the drug.
• India’s Stand: Revocation has been done in view of the humanitarian aspects of the pandemic.
• Neighbouring Countries: India has decided to licence paracetamol and HCQ in appropriate quantities to all its neighbouring countries who are dependent on its capabilities.
  
  • It will also supply these essential drugs to some nations that have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic.
• Pre-existing Orders: The government will fulfill the pre-existing orders, mainly to the U.S., Brazil and European countries, as they have made advance payments on their orders.
• Domestic Demand: The orders will be fulfilled depending on the stock position and domestic demand for the drug, which would be continuously monitored.
  
  • The government said that currently it has sufficient stock of the HCQ drug.

Hydroxy-chloroquine

• Hydroxy-chloroquine is an oral drug used in the treatment of malaria and some autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  • Malaria is a disease caused by mosquito bite of female Anopheles and spreads through parasites.
  • Autoimmune diseases are in which the body's immune system attacks healthy cells.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting many joints, including those in the hands and feet.
• Hydroxy-chloroquine against COVID-19:
  
  • Recent studies show that the HCQ drug alone or in combination with azithromycin appears to reduce the virus quickly.
  • Further, the study suggests that prophylaxis (treatment given to prevent disease) with hydroxy-chloroquine at approved doses could prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Although the drug has some side effects, it is linked to instances of cardiac arrhythmia and liver damage. Wide use may handicap the people’s ability to fight the disease.

Source: TH

India Moved to WTO on US Tariffs

Why in News

Under the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) safeguard agreement, India has sought consultations with the US.

• The consultation has been sought on American authorities' decision to increase import duties on derivatives of steel and aluminium products.

Key Points

WTO's Safeguard Agreement

• The Agreement on Safeguards (“SG Agreement”) sets forth the rules for application of safeguard measures pursuant to Article XIX of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994.
• Safeguard measures are defined as “emergency” actions with respect to increased imports of particular products, where such imports have caused or threaten to cause serious injury to the importing Member's domestic industry.
• As per a provision of the Agreement on Safeguards, a WTO member country proposing to apply a safeguard measures shall provide adequate opportunity for prior consultations with those members having a substantial interest as exporters of the product concerned.
  
  • This is with a view to exchanging views on the measure.
• India’s Stand
  
  • India considers this measure of the US to be a safeguard measure within a provision of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, and the Agreement on Safeguards.
  • Therefore, India has sought consultations with the US, under the WTO's safeguard agreement.
  • India has sought to exercise its right to consult on the specifics of the measures and its right to determine appropriate trade compensation with the US.
• According to the WTO:
  
  • India reserves the right to raise additional issues and make further factual and legal arguments.
  • This should be without prejudice to any other remedies provided for under the understanding of rules and procedures governing the settlement of disputes and the covered agreements during the course of consultations.
• India looks forward to receiving a prompt reply to its request from the US for a mutually convenient date and venue for the consultations.

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

• GATT traces its origins to the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference, which laid the foundations for the post-World War II financial system and established two key institutions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
• GATT signed by 23 countries in Geneva in 1947 came into force on Jan 1, 1948 with the following purposes:
  
  • to phase out the use of import quotas
  • to reduce tariffs on merchandise trade,
• GATT became the only multilateral instrument governing international trade from 1948 until the WTO was established in 1995.
  • The provisions of GATT 1947 were incorporated into the GATT of 1994. The GATT 1994 is itself part of the WTO formation agreement.
  • The Uruguay Round of GATT, conducted from 1987 to 1994 culminated in the Marrakesh agreement, which established the WTO.

Source: BS

Healthcare Institutions Face Cyber Threats

Why in News

The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has warned member countries that cybercriminals are attempting to target major hospitals and other institutions on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 with ransomware.

• The organisation also talked about recent changes in the pattern of crime.

Key Points

• In an alert sent to 194 nations, including India, Interpol said that the hospitals and institutions had become targets of ransomware attacks.
• Interpol’s Cybercrime Threat Response Team had detected an increase in the number of attempted ransomware attacks against key organisations and infrastructure engaged in the virus response.
• Cybercriminals are using ransomware to hold hospitals and medical services digitally hostage, preventing them from accessing vital files and systems until a ransom is paid.
  
  • The attacks were designed to lock these institutions out of their critical systems in an attempt to extort payments.
  • Locking hospitals out of their critical systems
    
    • Will delay the swift medical response required during these unprecedented times.
    • it could also directly lead to deaths.
• The ransomware appears to be spreading primarily via e-mails, often falsely claiming to contain information or advice regarding the coronavirus from a government agency, which encourages the recipient to click on an infected link or attachment.
• Prevention and Mitigation efforts are crucial to stopping the attacks.
  
  • Interpol continues to stand by its member countries and provide any assistance necessary to ensure vital healthcare systems remain untouched and the criminals targeting them held accountable.
  • Interpol also issued a Purple Notice to seek or provide information on modus operandi, objects, devices and concealment methods used by criminals.
• Steps Taken by the Government
  
  • Alerts received by the Government of India on the threat of ransomware/malware attacks have been communicated to the concerned departments.
  • Institutions and individuals have been appealed not to open any mail or link on coronavirus data or home remedies unless it is from a trusted source like a government agency.
    
    • They were also cautioned about a possibility of e-mail spoofing, where a suspect operating from a remote location would send a mail that would appear as if it came from a known person.

International Criminal Police Organization

• Interpol is an intergovernmental organization that helps coordinate the police force of 194 member countries.
• Each of the member countries hosts an interpol National Central Bureau (NCB). This connects their national law enforcement with other countries and with the General Secretariat.
  
  • The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is designated as the National Central Bureau of India.
  • The General Secretariat provides a range of expertise and services to the member countries.
• It is headquartered in Lyon, France
• Interpol Notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.

Changed Pattern of Crimes

• Interpol warned that with a majority of people working from home due to the pandemic, there was a change in the pattern of crimes.
• Following is the change
  
  • Fraudulent trade in personal protective equipment and anti-viral medicines,
  • individuals/businesses on reduced income becoming potential targets of loan sharks (Persons who loan money at extremely high interest rates and often use threats of violence to collect debts).
  • The lockdown period has made business establishments/factories vulnerable to thefts.
    
    • Since more people were at home, the number of burglaries had dropped. But thieves are increasingly targeting factories or business premises that were locked.
• Domestic violence cases have risen since the start of coronavirus-related quarantines, with reports showing women and children at greater risk of abuse.
• Recent weeks have seen increased online activity by paedophiles (persons who are sexually attracted to children) seeking child sexual abuse material.
  
  • This is being intensified by a shortage of moderators who identify and remove offensive material from networks.

Source: TH

Violence Against Women on Rise

Why in News

Recently, UN-Women, women’s rights activists, government authorities, and civil society partners across the globe have said that domestic violence during the Covid-19 crisis has increased against women.

Key Points

• The reports of violence have increased in countries like Argentina, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Cyprus, Singapore and Australia among others.
• In India, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has recorded a more than twofold rise in gender-based violence.
• It has been said that confinement due to Covid-19 is fostering the tension and strain created by security, health, and money is the reason behind this.
• This will have multiple impacts on women’s wellbeing, their sexual and reproductive health, their mental health, and their ability to participate and lead in the recovery of our societies, economy and difficulty in achieving Sustainable Development Goal -5 (SDG-5) -Gender equality.

Challenges in the wake Covid-19 Outbreak

• Even before Covid-19, domestic violence was already one of the greatest human rights violations.
  
  • In 2019-20, 243 million women and girls (aged 15-49) across the world have been subjected to sexual or physical violence by an intimate partner.
  • As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, the violence is likely to grow.
• Wide under-reporting of domestic and other forms of violence
  
  • Less than 40% of women who experience violence seeking help of any sort or reporting the crime.
  • Less than 10% of those women seeking help go to the police.
• The current circumstances (Covid-19 pandemic) make reporting even harder, including limitations on women’s and girls’ access to phones and helplines and disrupted public services like police, justice and social services.
  
  • These disruptions is compromising the care and support that survivors need, like clinical management of rape, and mental health and psycho-social support.
  • The disruptions also fuel impunity for the perpetrators.
• In many countries the law is not on the women's side. 1 in 4 countries have no laws specifically protecting women from domestic violence.

Way Forward

• The increase in violence against women should be dealt with urgently with measures embedded in economic support and stimulus packages that meet the gravity and scale of the challenge and reflect the needs of women who face multiple forms of discrimination.
• Grassroots and women’s organizations and communities need to be supported strongly in their current frontline role.
• Helplines, psychosocial support and online counselling should be boosted, using technology-based solutions such as SMS, online tools and networks to expand social support, and to reach women with no access to phones or internet.
• Police and justice services should mobilize to ensure that incidents of violence against women and girls are given high priority with no impunity for perpetrators.

UN Women

• It is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
• It is a global champion for women and girls, it was established to accelerate progress on meeting the needs of women worldwide.

Source: UN

Sequencing Novel Coronavirus

Why in News

India has shared nine whole genome sequences of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID).

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has allowed all national research laboratories to conduct testing for the novel coronavirus.

Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data

• GISAID is a public platform started by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008 for countries to share genome sequences.
• The GISAID Initiative promotes the international sharing of all influenza virus sequences, related clinical and epidemiological data associated with human viruses, and geographical as well as species-specific data associated with avian and other animal viruses
  
  • This helps researchers understand how the viruses evolve, spread and potentially become pandemics.
• It actively promotes the development of novel research tools for the analysis of influenza data by helping developers to facilitate the integration or connection of their tools to analyze GISAID data.

Key Points

• So far, 3,086 sequences of the virus isolated from humans have been shared by 57 countries.
  
  • With 621, the U.S. has shared the most number of sequences, followed by the U.K. (350), Belgium (253) and China (242).
• It has been found that a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 also known as 2019-nCoV, enables the virus to enter and infect human cells.
• Sequencing the genome of SARS-CoV-2 will help understand
  
  • where the virus came from.
  • if there are different strains circulating in India.
  • how the virus has spread.
• Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the order of Adenine, Cytosine, Guanines, and Thymine that make up an organism's DNA.
• On April 2, 2020, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) allowed all national research laboratories including those under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to conduct testing for the novel coronavirus.
• According to CSIR
  
  • Both the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB, Telangana) and the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi) have already started sequencing the virus.
  • The CCMB has both Biosafety Level (BSL)-2 and BSL-3 labs.
  • The virus is isolated and deactivated in BSL-3 facility and sequenced in BSL-2 facility.
  • Besides sequencing, the virus will also be cultured (grown in cells).
    
    • Cell culture is the maintenance and growth of the cells in specially designed containers and under precise conditions of temperature, humidity, nutrition, and freedom from contamination.
    • This will help in studying the virus and will be useful while testing vaccines and drugs.

Biosafety levels

• BSL is used to identify the protective measures needed in a laboratory setting to protect workers, the environment, and the public.
• Activities and projects conducted in biological laboratories are categorized by biosafety level.
• The four biosafety levels are BSL-1, BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4, with BSL-4 being the highest (maximum) level of containment.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

• CSIR was established by the Government of India in September 1942 as an autonomous body.
• It is known for its cutting edge R&D knowledge base in diverse S&T areas.
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been ranked first in the Nature Ranking Index-2020.
  
  • The Nature Index provides a close to real-time proxy of high-quality research output and collaboration at the institutional, national and regional level.

Indian Council of Medical Research

• ICMR is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
• Its mandate is to conduct, coordinate and implement medical research for the benefit of the Society; translating medical innovations into products/processes and introducing them into the public health system.
• It is funded by the Government of India through the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Source: TH

Covid-19 & Cytokine Storms

Why in News

Accumulating evidence suggests that a subset of patients with severe Covid-19 might have a “Cytokine Storm Syndrome” (CSS).

• CSS is an overly vigorous immune response to a triggering event, frequently certain viral infections.
• Severe COVID-19 patients are defined by manifestations that include respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and shock or organ failure that requires intensive care, and which may lead to death.

Cytokine Storm Syndrome

• Body’s Immune Response Working
  
  • The immune systems in our bodies protect us from bacteria, viruses, and parasites by removing them from our systems.
  • The immune system gets activated by things that the body does not recognise as its own. These things are called antigens, and include bacteria, fungi and viruses.
  • An effective immune system response involves inflammation, an important and indispensable part of the process. For example, Inflammation is visible when one hurts one's knee or ankle — the area of this external injury becomes red and swollen.
  • Immune system deploys white blood cells to the injured area to begin work on repairs.
  • Without such an immune response, injuries would not heal, and infections would become deadly.
• Role of Cytokines
  
  • Cytokines are inflammatory immunological proteins that are there to fight off infections and ward off cancers.
  • The release of inflammatory mediators increases the blood flow to the area, which allows larger numbers of immune system cells to be carried to the injured tissue, thereby aiding the repairing process. Thus, inflammation has an important protective function.
  • However, if this inflammatory response is not regulated, very dangerous consequences can follow. This is when a ‘cytokine storm’ can be triggered.
• Cytokine Storm Syndrome
  
  • CSS is characterised by the overproduction of immune cells and the cytokines themselves because of a dysregulation in the process.
  • Reasons: A cytokine storm can occur due to an infection, auto-immune condition (when the body's immune system attacks healthy cells as in case of coeliac disease- an immune disorder that primarily affects the small intestine), or other diseases.
  • Signs and symptoms include high fever, inflammation (redness and swelling), severe fatigue, and nausea.
    
    • In the case of any flu infection, a cytokine storm is associated with a surge of activated immune cells into the lungs, which, instead of fighting off the antigen, leads to lung inflammation and fluid build-up, and respiratory distress.
  • Harm
    
    • A severe immune reaction, leading to the secretion of too many cytokines in the bloodstream, can be harmful since an excess of immune cells can attack healthy tissue as well.
    • The damage to the surrounding cells can be catastrophic, leading to sepsis and potentially, death.
      
      • Sepsis occurs when the body's response to infection is out of balance, triggering changes that can damage multiple organ systems.
• CSS and Covid-19
  
  • Cytokine storms are not exclusive to coronavirus patients. It is an immune reaction that can occur during other infectious and non-infectious diseases as well.
  • CSS is seen as a likely major cause of mortality in both the 1918-20 Spanish Flu that killed more than 50 million people worldwide, and the H1N1 (swine flu) and H5N1 (bird flu) outbreaks in recent years.
  • Increased pro-inflammatory cytokine responses against human coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-1 (which caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - SARS), SARS-CoV-2 (which is responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) can result in acute lung injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
  • If the clinical features of CSS are not recognised and adequate treatment is not promptly instituted, multiple organ failure can result. Researchers writing in The Lancet have suggested that all severe COVID-19 patients should be screened for hyper inflammation.

Source: IE

Expert Panel Against Full Repeal of lockdown

Why in News

An expert committee’s report to the government has suggested that 14^th April, 2020 is not the right time to fully withdraw the 21-days nationwide lockdown.

• The committee was asked to look into the strategy to ease the lockdown restrictions.

21 Days Lockdown

• The period of 21 days was chosen due to public health/epidemiological significance and it is supported by scientific data.
  
  • The calculations are based on the estimated incubation period of the virus in a human host.
  • The 21-day quarantine value is derived from interpretations of outbreak data from past and present epidemics and pandemics. For example, the cases of Spanish Flu and Ebola.
• Explanation:
  
  • In epidemiological terms, 14 days are of the initial incubation period and adding another week, i.e. 21 days is to ensure that residual infection dies out.
  • It is estimated that being a new strain of coronavirus, its median incubation period (the time between the entry of virus to the onset of symptoms/ disease) falls within the period of 14 days.
  • According to a recent study the median incubation period for COVID-19 is just over five days and 97.5% of people who develop symptoms will do so within 11.5 days of infection.
  • So, the current period of active monitoring (14 days) recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is well supported by the evidence.

Key Points

• Restrictions on large-scale movement of people across International and State boundaries is critical and should be kept there unless and until the situation gets under control in every State.
• The major concern is that a prolonged and stringent lockdown will lead to economic hardships, famine and law and order issues, which may undermine the objectives of both the lockdown and health management.
• The committee suggested a withdrawal strategy which should be gradual, phased and calibrated so that it is ensured that the caseload is kept below the capacity of the health-care systems.
• Such a phased approach should be operationalized at the revenue district level.

Suggestions

• All states should fasten up preparatory work for the predicted and rapid rise of Covid-19 cases as they are expected to exceed the local capacity in some cities.
• No relaxation in speedy production and procurement of test kits, ventilators, PPEs for health-care personnel and masks.
• Centre should release funds and create a national coordination mechanism to distribute them on a need basis.
• Centre should ensure effective coordination between the States and logistics operators.
• Supporting the agricultural sector in production, marketing, storage, and transport.
• Ensuring continuation of modern technological leaps, like rapid innovations and practices which are being introduced in education, judiciary, local business, telemedicine, among others, even after the lockdown ends.

Source: TH

China at Top in Global Patent Race

Why in News

Recently, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has highlighted that China has become the biggest source of applications for international patents in the world.

Key Points

• China has pushed the United States from the top position which it has held since the global system was set up more than 40 years ago.
  
  • The U.S. had filed the most applications in the world every year since the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system was set up in 1978.
• China filed 58,990 applications beating the 57,840 applications filed by the U.S.
  
  • China’s figure was a 200-fold increase in just 20 years.
  • China’s success can be attributed to the deliberate strategy of advancing innovations and to make the country’s economy operate at a higher level of value.
• In the current times, more than half of patent applications, almost 52.4%, come from Asia.
• Japan is on the third rank followed by Germany and South Korea.

World Intellectual Property Organization

• It is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information and cooperation.
• It is a self-funding agency of the United Nations, with 193 member states.
• Mission: To lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.
• Its mandate, governing bodies and procedures are set out in the WIPO Convention, which established WIPO in 1967.
• It is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.

Patent Cooperation Treaty

• It is an international treaty with more than 150 Contracting States.
• It makes it possible to seek patent protection for an invention simultaneously in each of a large number of countries by filing an international patent application.
  
  • Such an application may be filed by anyone who is a national or resident of a PCT Contracting State.
  • It may generally be filed with the national patent office of the Contracting State or at the applicant's option, with the International Bureau of WIPO in Geneva.
  • The granting of patents remains under the control of the national or regional patent Offices in what is called the national phase.
• PCT is used by:
  
  • World’s major corporations, research institutions and universities when they seek international patent protection.
  • Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and individual inventors.

Ionospheric Based Monitoring of Large Earthquakes

Why in News

Recently, scientists of Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) have come up with a study of the signatures of recent large earthquakes into the ionosphere. The aim was to derive the seismic source characteristics from the ionosphere.

• The research is a part of the interdisciplinary program ‘Coupled Lithosphere-Atmosphere- Ionosphere-Magnetosphere System (CLAIMs)’ of IIG. CLAIMS focuses on energy transfer to the atmosphere during solid Earth processes such as earthquakes as well as tsunamis.
• IIG is an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology.

Key Points

• Scientists noticed that the spatial distribution of near field co-seismic ionospheric perturbations (CIP) associated with the earthquake could reflect well the ground deformation pattern evolved around the epicentre.
  
  • These CIP were derived using the Global Positioning System (GPS) measured Total Electron Content (TEC).
    
    • The TEC is the total number of electrons present along a path between a radio transmitter and receiver.
  • The CIP distribution was estimated at ionospheric piercing point (IPP) altitude.
• Co-seismic Ionospheric Perturbations (CIP):
  
  • In general, the Earth crust uplift during any earthquake produces compressional (i.e. pressure) waves in the overlying atmosphere.
    
    • These waves propagate upward in the region of exponentially decreasing atmospheric neutral density, and thus, waves amplitudes increase with atmospheric heights.
    • On arrival at ionospheric heights, the waves redistribute ionospheric electron density and produce electron density perturbations (disruption) known as Co-seismic Ionospheric Perturbations (CIP).
• However, evolution of seismic/tectonically induced ionospheric perturbation is highly controlled by the non-tectonic forcing mechanisms.
• The major effective non-tectonic forcing mechanisms at ionospheric altitudes are the
  
  • orientation between the ambient geomagnetic field and seismic induced neutral wave perturbations.
  • orientation between the moving satellite line of sights and the wave perturbations.
  • ambient ionospheric electron density gradient.
• Challenge: The ionosphere is a highly dynamic region and the origin of any perturbations in ionospheric electron density can be traced to various origins either from above (e.g. solar, geomagnetic etc) or below (e.g. lower atmospheric, seismic etc) the ionosphere. This is a major challenge while identifying the CIP.
• Inference: The manifestation of CIP has to be seen in light of the prevailing non-tectonic forcing mechanisms.
  
  • In this line, it is believed that the present study may assist while designing a tool for the ionospheric based seismic source characterisation.

Ionosphere

• The ionosphere is defined as the layer of the Earth's atmosphere that is ionized by solar and cosmic radiation. It overlaps the mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
• It lies 75-1000 km above the Earth.

Source: PIB

SAMADHAN Challenge

Why in News

Recently, a mega online challenge, SAMADHAN has been launched to test the ability of students to innovate.

• The Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Human Resources Development and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched it in collaboration with Forge and InnovatioCuris (an organisation on healthcare expertise).

Key Points

• Under the challenge, the participating students will search and develop measures against Coronavirus.
• The challenge will inspire students and faculty for novel experiments and discoveries providing a strong baseline of experimentation.
• The newly developed measures can be made available to the government agencies, health services, hospitals and other services for the quick solution of such epidemics.
• The challenge will also create awareness among citizens and motivate them to face challenges, prevent crises and help them get livelihood.
• The success of this program depends on the effectiveness of the ideas of participating contestants with ability to find solutions, technically and commercially.

Source: PIB