Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 24 Jan 2023

Norovirus

Recently, the Norovirus infection was confirmed in two schoolchildren in Kerala.

Norovirus is a group of viruses that leads to gastrointestinal illness. It causes inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, in addition to severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

According to Health officials, Norovirus outbreaks are rarely serious, but the virus can spread fast if proper precautions are not taken. Contaminated water or food is the usual infective agent. The virus spreads through the faecal-oral route.

Norovirus is resistant to many disinfectants and can heat up to 60°C. Therefore, merely steaming food or chlorinating water does not kill the virus. It can also survive many common hand sanitisers.

While there is no specific treatment available to cure the virus, generic medications for diarrhoea and vomiting can help cure the disease.

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Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021

Recently, Bombay HC allowed a married woman to get her 33-week pregnancy medically terminated citing that the length of the pregnancy does not matter in cases of severe foetal abnormalities.

Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, the maximum gestational age at which a woman may obtain a medical abortion in India was raised from 20 weeks to 24 weeks (with the recommendation of two registered medical practitioners). And for beyond 24 weeks of gestational stage, medical termination of pregnancy is allowed if serious foetal abnormalities are found.

Changes in Global Gender Gap Report Criteria

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has agreed to make changes in criteria for Global Gender Gap Reports by taking into account the participation of women at panchayat level to rank countries in its future reports. It will better India’s position at the global level.

The decision comes after India’s Union Women and Child Development Minister led an Indian delegation to Davos Summit held recently and reiterated the “flaws” in the ranking system.

So far, the WEF has 4 major verticals to assess gender gap in a country — (a) economic participation, (b) political participation, (c) health and (d) education levels.

There are 1.4-million women in the Indian panchayat system whose political contribution will now be enumerated in the future reports.

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2023

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar (SCBAPP) 2023 was announced on 23 January 2023.

For 2023, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and Lunglei Fire Station (LFS), Mizoram, both in the Institutional category, have been selected for their excellent work in Disaster Management.

SCBAPP is conferred annually to recognize and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service in the field of disaster management. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs. 5 lakh and a certificate in the case of an individual.