Tag: pandemic preparedness

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UPSC Editorial Analysis: Global Health Governance and Emerging Viral Threats

General Studies-2; Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded the status of the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), signalling a critical threat to regional stability. …

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U.S. Formally Withdraws From the World Health Organization

Source:  FE Subject:  International Organisation Context: The United States is set to formally withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) after serving a one-year notice, despite warnings about adverse impacts on U.S. and global health governance. About U.S. Formally Withdraws From the World Health Organization: What is the WHO? The World Health Organization is the …

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India’s Bioeconomy

Context: India’s bioeconomy touched $166 billion in 2024, up from $10 billion in 2014, as announced by Union Minister while inaugurating a BSL-4 biocontainment facility in Gujarat. About India’s Bioeconomy: What it is? India’s bioeconomy refers to the economic value generated from biotechnology, biopharma, agriculture biotech, bio-industrial products, bio-energy, and health sciences. Key facts & …

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Environmental surveillance

Source:  TH Context: ICMR announced a plan to start wastewater surveillance for 10 viruses across 50 Indian cities, expanding India’s disease monitoring system. About Environmental surveillance: What It Is? Environmental surveillance is the monitoring of pathogens (viruses, bacteria, parasites) in environmental samples like sewage, wastewater, soil, and air. It supplements traditional clinical case detection by …

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New Definition of Pandemic Emergency

Source:  TH Context: The amended International Health Regulations (IHR) entered into force, bringing in a new legal category — pandemic emergency. About New Definition of Pandemic Emergency: What it is? A pandemic emergency is a newly defined sub-category under IHR that applies to public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC) but with a heightened threshold …

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WHO Pandemic Agreement

Syllabus: Health & International Relations Source:  BS Context: The World Health Assembly formally adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement, a global legal treaty to improve preparedness for future pandemics. About WHO Pandemic Agreement: What is the WHO Pandemic Agreement? A legally binding international treaty under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution — only the second such …

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UPSC Editorial Analysis: Draft WHO Pandemic Treaty (2024)

General Studies-2; Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.   Introduction The Covid-19 pandemic exposed deep fault lines in global health governance, particularly in areas such as information transparency, vaccine nationalism, and inequitable distribution of critical health supplies. In March 2021, over 20 countries and international organizations proposed a global treaty to …

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International Pathogen Surveillance Network

Source:  WHO Context: The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN), led by the WHO, has awarded catalytic grants totaling nearly $2 million to 10 global projects aimed at improving pathogen genomic surveillance. About International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN): Established by: WHO through the Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. Origin: Launched to advance pathogen genomic surveillance …

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Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response Initiative

Source:  IE Context: The Government of India has launched the “Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response” initiative to bolster animal health security as a preventive measure against future pandemics About the ‘Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response’ Initiative: Launched in: October 25, 2024 The project …

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