Science & Technology Current Affairs MCQs

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World Organ Donation Day 2024 is celebrated on August 13 to raise awareness about organ donation. The theme for 2024 is “Be the Reason for Someone’s Smile Today.” Thousands of people worldwide await life-saving organ transplants each year. The day aims to promote the importance of organ donation and dispel related myths. It also honors organ donors who have saved lives and given others a chance at a healthy life.

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World Mosquito Day is observed on August 20 to highlight the importance of protecting against mosquito-borne diseases.
Mosquitoes spread diseases like malaria, dengue, Zika, and West Nile virus, affecting millions and causing deaths worldwide. The 2024 theme is “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world.” This theme stresses the need to improve access to malaria treatment, diagnosis, and prevention. Timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and save lives.

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The Chief Minister of Meghalaya recently tested positive for Scrub Typhus. Scrub Typhus, or bush typhus, is caused by the bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is transmitted through bites from infected chiggers (larval mites). Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, a rash, and a scab-like area at the bite site. There is no vaccine for Scrub Typhus. It commonly affects rural areas in Southeast Asia, China, the Indian subcontinent, and Northern Australia.

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WHO released its first-ever guidance to address antibiotic pollution from manufacturing processes, a major factor in the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) crisis. Wastewater from antibiotic manufacturing contains residues that pollute water bodies and land, contributing to AMR. Currently, antibiotic pollution from manufacturing is mostly unregulated, and quality standards do not address environmental emissions. AMR occurs when pathogens no longer respond to medicines, a natural process accelerated by overuse of antimicrobials. The rise of “superbugs” worsens healthcare, particularly for patients with multiple diseases.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) recently approved its first Mpox vaccine for use in Africa. The vaccine, developed by Bavarian Nordic A/S, is a major step forward in tackling Mpox in the African region. With this approval, the vaccine can be pre-qualified for purchase by international donors like GAVI and UNICEF. Although there is limited supply due to having only one manufacturer, this vaccine is crucial for controlling outbreaks and enhancing public health in Africa.

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Researchers believe kleptoparasitism, or food theft among seabirds, may help spread the H5N1 avian influenza virus globally. Kleptoparasitism refers to one animal stealing food that another has already caught or prepared. This behavior can include stealing prey, stored food, or even nesting materials from other animals. It occurs in various animal groups, such as birds, insects, and mammals, and is a form of social parasitism. Kleptoparasites gain food without expending energy to find it, and the theft can happen between the same species (intraspecific) or different species (interspecific).

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Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This mosquito thrives in urban areas, particularly in clean, stagnant water, making densely populated regions susceptible to outbreaks. In 2024, more than 12 million cases were reported globally, with significant spikes in countries like Brazil and India. The rise in dengue cases is attributed to factors such as urbanization, climate change, and increased global movement, which facilitate the spread of the virus and its vectors. Preventative measures include reducing mosquito breeding sites and personal protection against bites.

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Recently, six people have died in Rwanda due to a Marburg virus outbreak. Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a rare but severe hemorrhagic fever affecting humans and primates. MVD is caused by the Marburg virus, similar to the Ebola virus, both from the Filoviridae family. The virus was first identified in 1967 in Marburg, Germany, linked to infected green monkeys. The African fruit bat is the reservoir host, and transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids.

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Recent studies indicate that the Rocahepevirus ratti strain, commonly known as “rat HEV,” primarily resides in rats and has been found to infect humans. Since its first human case in 2018, at least 20 cases have been reported, often linked to the consumption of raw pork. Researchers discovered that rat HEV could infect pigs and spread among them, highlighting concerns for the pork industry as a potential pathway for human infection. Hepatitis E remains a significant global health issue, particularly in developing regions.

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ESA will launch a satellite called DRACO (Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object) mission in 2027 to study satellite disintegration during reentry. DRACO aims to help reduce space debris by collecting data on how satellites break apart. The mission will also study the environmental impact of reentry, including material interactions with the atmosphere.Deimos, a European company, will build the 200-kilogram satellite. DRACO will carry a 40-centimetre capsule with cameras and sensors to record data during reentry. The capsule will parachute down after reentry, sending crucial information before being lost at sea.