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Current Affairs-10.01.2021

10.01.2021

1. Emergency Use Authorisation of COVID Vaccine

In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants EUA only after it has been determined that the “known and potential benefits outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccine” (or medicine).
There is nothing such as emergency use approval in Indian rules, however the 2019 rules provide for “Accelerated Approval Process” in several situations that would include the one like the current pandemic.
In such situations, there is a provision for granting approval to a drug that is still in clinical trials provided the product is of meaningful therapeutic benefit.
Accelerated approval may also be granted to a new drug if it is intended for the treatment of a serious, or life-threatening condition, or disease of special relevance to the country, and addresses unmet medical needs.
A new drug, or a vaccine, can be considered for approval if remarkable effectiveness is reported even from phase-II trials.
In such cases, additional post licensure studies may be required.
The approval granted to drugs or vaccines that are still in clinical trials is temporary, and valid only for one year.

3. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
The country is bordered to the north by China and by Russia along the Amnok (known as the Yalu in Chinese) and Tumen rivers, and to the south by South Korea, with the heavily fortified Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two.
North Korea, like its southern counterpart, claims to be the legitimate government of the entire peninsula and adjacent islands.
Pyongyang is the country's capital and largest city.

4. Magh Bihu / Bhogali Bihu

Bihu is the most important festival of Assam, which is actually a set of three festivals.
Bhogali Bihu or Maagh Bihu is celebrated during the month of January in Assam.
It the second largest Bihu festival of Assam after Bohag Bihu.
It marks the end of the harvest season.
People worship Lord Indra, who according to the Hindu mythology is “God of rains and clouds”.

5. Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is a festival day in the Hindu calendar, in reference to deity Surya (sun).
Makar Sankranti is observed according to solar cycles. It is held normally on the 14th of January, or a day before or after. In certain regions celebrations can go on for even four days and vary a lot in the rituals.
It marks the first day of sun's transit into the Makara (Capricorn), marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days.

6. H5N1

It is a viral infection that can infect not only birds, but also humans and other animals. Most forms of the virus are restricted to birds.
It is a highly contagious viral disease affecting several species of food-producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds.
Occasionally mammals, including humans, may contract avian influenza.
Influenza A viruses are classified into subtypes based on two surface proteins, Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA).

7. H5N8

H5N8 avian influenza is a disease of birds, caused by Type “A” influenza viruses, which can affect several species of domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, ducks, as well as pet birds, wild migratory birds and water fowl.
There are no known cases of H5N8 in human beings. Risk to general public is very low.
There is also no evidence that consumption of poultry meat or eggs could transmit the virus to humans.

8. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza = Bird flu