Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2024

Notes:
Whooping cough, caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria, is surging in countries like China, the Netherlands, and Czech Republic. Highly contagious, it affects the respiratory tract, especially infants, with potential for pneumonia and death. Spread through droplets, it damages airway linings, causing severe coughing fits, vomiting, and sleep apnea. Early symptoms resemble a cold, progressing to distinctive “whooping” cough.

Notes:
New evidence from the Australian Marine Conservation Society shows that coral bleaching in the southern Great Barrier Reef is worse than expected. The reef, off Australia’s northeastern coast, is the world’s longest and largest, spanning over 2,300 km with 3,000 reefs and 900 islands. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a marine protected area. The recent bleaching underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts to preserve this vital ecosystem.

Notes:
Russia successfully tested its Angara-A5 space rocket from Vostochny Cosmodrome. Earlier attempts on April 9 and 10 were canceled due to technical issues. The rocket reached an altitude of over 25,000 kilometers per hour. This marked Russia’s third successful test. The test coincided with Cosmonaut Day, commemorating Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight in 1961. The Angara-A5 is a 54.5-meter, 773-ton three-stage rocket capable of carrying 24.5 tons into space.

Notes:
Iran’s Navy captured the Israeli ship MSC Aries near the Strait of Hormuz with 17 Indian crew members aboard. Iranian officials now control the crew. Efforts are underway for their safe return. Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdullahian stated Tehran will allow Indian officials to meet them soon. Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar discussed their return with Iran’s Foreign Minister.

Notes:
Indonesian badminton player Jonatan Christie clinched his maiden Asian Badminton Championship title by defeating Chinese player Li Shi Feng in the final of the 2024 Badminton Asia Championships on April 14. The event, held in Ningbo, China, from April 9-14, is a BWF Super 1000 tournament, awarding 1000 points to the winners. This championship served as the final Olympic qualifier before the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Notes:
A Gray Slender Loris was rescued in North Goa by forest officials. The gray slender loris (Loris lydekkerianus) is native to southern India and central, north-central, and east-central Sri Lanka. It lives in subtropical and tropical dry forests, and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It’s also commonly found in the tropical scrub and deciduous forests, and dense hedgerow plantations bordering farmlands. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies the gray slender loris as Least Concern. The gray slender Loris is a small primate that’s part of the oldest and most primitive group of primates, called prosimians.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) from Chandipur, Odisha. All subsystems performed well, monitored by range sensors and a Su-30-Mk-I aircraft. The missile showcased precise navigation, flying close to the sea surface. The test affirmed the reliability of the indigenous propulsion system by GTRE, Bengaluru. Developed by ADE, equipped with advanced avionics, the ITCM is a technology demonstrator with an upgraded seeker and small turbofan engine.

Notes:
Renowned economist Utsa Patnaik receives the 2023 Malcolm Adiseshiah Award, an honor granted annually by the Malcolm & Elizabeth Adiseshiah Trust. Selected by a national-level jury, the award acknowledges exceptional contributions to Development Studies. It includes a citation and Rs. 2 lakh cash prize. Malcolm Adiseshiah, the award’s namesake, was an Indian development economist and educator, recognized with the Padma Bhushan in 1976 for his impactful work.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) introduces the term ‘Infectious Respiratory Particles’ (IRPs) to describe pathogens transmitted through the air, addressing a lack of common terminology during the COVID-19 pandemic. IRPs encompass particles expelled through breathing, talking, coughing, or sneezing. They exist across a spectrum of sizes, with two descriptors: Airborne transmission (inhalation) and Direct deposition (exposure to expelled particles). This clarifies communication and aids efforts to combat pathogen transmission.

Notes:
The World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified the Euvichol-S vaccine, a simplified and cost-effective version of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) Euvichol-Plus. It contains fewer ingredients, is cheaper, and can be produced more rapidly. Cholera, caused by Vibrio cholerae bacteria, is transmitted through contaminated food or water. Most cases occur in the Middle East and Africa, with India reporting 132 cases in 2023 (until July).