Daily Quiz

Solution (b)
Explanation:
• Dengue is primarily spread through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti. These mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person already infected with the virus. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• Dengue cannot be spread directly from person to person through casual contact such as touching, kissing, or hugging. The virus requires a vector, specifically mosquitoes, to be transmitted. (Option (b) is correct)
• Dengue can be transmitted through blood transfusion if the donor is infected with the dengue virus. This is why blood banks screen for dengue in endemic areas. (Option (c) is incorrect)
• Similar to blood transfusion, dengue can be transmitted through organ transplants if the donor organs are infected. Therefore, screening is necessary to prevent this mode of transmission. (Option (d) is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/why-are-dengue-cases-on-the-surge-explained/article68390457.ece#:~:text=Noting%20that%20dengue%20was%20once,urbanisation%2C%20expanding%20travel%20patterns%20and

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• India’s first international deepwater container transhipment port is located at Vizhinjam in the state of Kerala. Vizhinjam is situated near Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. (Option (c) is correct)
• The port is strategically positioned close to international shipping routes, making it an ideal location for transshipment activities.
• The port has a natural draft of around 20 meters, allowing it to accommodate some of the largest container ships in the world without the need for extensive dredging.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/first-mothership-san-fernando-calls-at-vizhinjam-international-seaport-in-kerala/article68391916.ece

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• Zika virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. (Option (a) is correct)
• A large proportion of people infected with the Zika virus remain asymptomatic. When symptoms do occur, they are generally mild and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and joint pain. (Option (b) is correct)
• Zika virus infection has been linked to neurological complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (a condition that causes muscle weakness and paralysis) and myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord). (Option (c) is correct)
• As of now, there is no WHO-approved vaccine for the Zika virus. Research and development are ongoing, but no vaccines have been formally approved by the WHO. (Option (d) is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/understanding-zika-virus-and-need-to-improve-surveillance-and-vector-control/article68390023.ece#:~:text=A%20recent%20report%20in%20The,approved%20diagnostic%20test%20for%20Zika.

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• The 1997 Bangkok Declaration established BIMSTEC. This initiative aimed to promote economic cooperation among the countries bordering the Bay of Bengal.
• The founding member countries were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, and the declaration was signed in Bangkok. (Statement 1 is correct)
• The BIMSTEC Charter, which formalizes the structure and functioning of the organization, was signed and adopted in 2022. (Statement 2 is correct)
• The chairmanship of BIMSTEC rotates based on the alphabetical order of the English names of the Member States.
• This rotational leadership ensures that each member country gets the opportunity to lead the organization and influence its agenda. (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-hosts-bimstec-foreign-ministers-amid-raging-myanmar-crisis/article68394034.ece

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• A heat dome is indeed a high-pressure system that traps warm air like a lid on a pot, preventing it from rising and thus leading to prolonged periods of hot weather. (Statement 1 is correct)
• The high-pressure system of a heat dome actually allows more sunlight to reach the earth’s surface. This results in more warming and drying of the soil, which reduces evaporation and the likelihood of rain cloud formation. (Statement 2 is incorrect)
• While heat domes can cause heatwaves, heatwaves can also occur without heat domes. Heatwaves are prolonged periods of excessively hot weather, which can be caused by various other meteorological conditions as well. (Statement 3 is incorrect)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/high-temperatures-us-heat-domes-9445137/