Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 15 Feb 2023

Mpox

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as many as 85,765 confirmed and 1,382 probable cases of mpox (monkeypox) were reported from 110 countries since 1^st January, 2022. The United States was the most affected, recording 29,948 confirmed cases.

WHO assessed the global risk as ‘Moderate’ and also announced that it would prefer to refer to the disease as mpox rather than monkeypox.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease with symptoms similar to smallpox but is less contagious. It was first diagnosed in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. Vaccines used to eradicate smallpox provides protection against mpox. New vaccines against the disease have also been developed and approved.

Marburg Virus

Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa has confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Marburg virus disease is highly contagious and causes haemorrhagic fever. It begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Of every 100 people who contract the virus, 88 are likely to die. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

The rare virus was first identified in 1967 after it caused simultaneous outbreaks of disease in laboratories in Marburg, Germany and Belgrade, Serbia.

Read More: Marburg Virus

Judicial Review

Recently, the Supreme Court explained that “suitability” of a candidate cleared by the Collegium for appointment as a judge in a constitutional court cannot be a subject of judicial review.

Judicial Review is a type of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body. It is the power exerted by the courts of a country to examine the actions of the legislatures, executive and administrative arms of government and to ensure that such actions conform to the provisions of the nation’s Constitution.

Judicial review is considered a basic structure of the constitution (Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain Case 1975).

Some of the provisions that support Judicial Review: Article 372 (1), Article 13, Articles 32 and 226, Article 251 and 254, Article 246 (3), Article 245, Articles 131-136, Article 137

Mammatus Clouds

Recently, a cluster of clouds that appear like bubbles from the bottom are observed hovering over Nebraska, United States.

The cloud bottoms appear like bubbles because moist warm air that rises and cools will condense into water droplets at a specific temperature, which usually corresponds to a very specific height. As water droplets grow, an opaque cloud forms. Under some conditions, however, cloud pockets can develop that contain large droplets of water or ice that fall into clear air as they evaporate. Such pockets may occur in turbulent air near a thunderstorm. Resulting in the appearance of mammatus clouds.