Microtheme: Specific Diseases —
18 questions asked in Prelims in the past.

1. [2023] ‘Wolbachia method’ is sometimes talked about with reference to which one of the following?
   • (a) (a)Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes
   • (b) (b)Converting crop residues into packing material
   • (c) (c)Producing biodegradable plastics
   • (d) (d)Producing biochar from thermochemical conversion of biomass
   Correct Answer: (A) (a)Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes
2. [2021] Consider the following statements:
   1.Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes, whereas retroviruses have double-stranded DNA genomes.
   2.The common cold is sometimes caused by an adenovirus, whereas AIDS is caused by a retrovirus.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   • (a) 1 only
   • (b) 2 only
   • (c) Both 1 and 2
   • (d) Neither 1 nor 2
   Correct Answer: (B) 2 only
3. [2019] Which one of the following statements is not correct?
   • (a) Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV.
   • (b) Hepatitis B, unlike Hepatitis C, does not have a vaccine.
   • (c) Globally, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses are several times more than those infected with HIV.
   • (d) Some of those infected with Hepatitis Band C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years.
   Correct Answer: (B) Hepatitis B, unlike Hepatitis C, does not have a vaccine.
4. [2018] Consider the following:
   1. Birds
   2. Dust blowing
   3. Rain
   4. Wind blowing
   Which of the above spread plant diseases?
   • (a) 1 and 3 only
   • (b) 3 and 4 only
   • (c) 1, 2 and 4 only
   • (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
   Correct Answer: (D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
5. [2017] Consider the following statements:
   1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.
   2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   • (a) 1 only
   • (b) 2 only
   • (c) Both 1 and 2
   • (d) Neither 1 nor 2
   Correct Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
6. [2015] Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola
   virus recently?
   • (a) Syria and Jordan
   • (b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
   • (c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea
   • (d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam
   Correct Answer: (B) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
7. [2015] HINI virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following
   diseases?
   • (a) AIDS
   • (b) Bird flu
   • (c) Dengue
   • (d) Swine flu
   Correct Answer: (D) Swine flu
8. [2014] Consider the following pairs :
   Vitamin : Deficiency disease
   1. Vitamin C : Scurvy
   2. Vitamin D : Rickets
   3. Vitamin E : Night Blindness
   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
   • (a) 1 and 2 only
   • (b) 3 only
   • (c) 1, 2 and 3 only
   • (d) None
   Correct Answer: (D) None
9. [2014] Consider the following diseases:
   1. Diphtheria
   2. Chickenpox
   3. Smallpox
   Which of the above diseases has/have been eradicated in India?
   • (a) 1 and 2 only
   • (b) 3 only
   • (c) 1, 2 and 3 only
   • (d) None of the above
   Correct Answer: (B) 3 only
10. [2013] Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through
    tattooing?
    (1). Chikungunya
    (2). Hepatitis B
    (3). HIV-AIDS
    Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
    • (a) 1 only
    • (b) 2 and 3 only
    • (c) 1 and 3 only
    • (d) 1, 2 and 3
    Correct Answer: (B) 2 and 3 only
11. [2013] Improper handling and storage of Cereal grains and oilseeds result in the production of toxins
    known as aflatoxins which are not generally destroyed by normal cooking process. Aflatoxins
    are produced by
    • (a) bacteria
    • (b) protozoa
    • (c) moulds
    • (d) viruses
    Correct Answer: (C) moulds
12. [2011] A company marketing food product advertises that its items do not contain trans-fats. What does this campaign signify to the customers? 1. The food products are not made out of hydrogenated oils.
    2. The food products are not made out of animal fats/oils.
    3. The oils used are not likely to damage the cardiovascular health of the consumers.
    • (a) 1 only
    • (b) 2 and 3 only
    • (c) 1 and 3 only
    • (d) 1,2 and 3
    Correct Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
13. [2010] Consider the following statements:
    1. Every individual in the population is equally susceptible host for Swine Flu.
    2. Antibiotics have no role in the primary treatment of Swine Flu
    3. To prevent the future spread of Swine Flu in the epidemic area, the swine (pigs) must all be culled
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    • (a) 1 and 2 only
    • (b) 2 only
    • (c) 2 and 3 only
    • (d) 1,2 and 3
    Correct Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
14. [2010] Consider the following statements:
    1. Hepatitis B is several times more infectious than HIV/AIDS
    2. Hepatitis B can cause liver cancer
    Which of the statement given above is/are correct?
    • (a) 1 only
    • (b) 2 only
    • (c) Both 1 and 2
    • (d) Neither 1 nor 2
    Correct Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
15. [2010] With reference to the treatment of cancerous tumours, a tool called cyberknife has been making the news. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct ?
    • (a) It is a robotic image guided system
    • (b) It delivers and extremely precise dose of radiation
    • (c) It has the capability of achieving sub-millimetre accuracy
    • (d) It can map the spread of tumour in the body
    Correct Answer: (D) It can map the spread of tumour in the body
16. [2010] With regard to the transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which one of the following statement if not correct?
    • (a) The chance of transmission from female to male are twice as likely as from male to female
    • (b) The chance of transmissions are more if a person suffers from other sexually transmitted infections
    • (c) An infected mother can transmit the infection, at childbreath and by breast feeding,
    • (d) The risk of contraction infection from transfusion of infected blood is much higher than an exposure to a contaminated needle
    Correct Answer: (A) The chance of transmission from female to male are twice as likely as from male to female
17. [2010] Recently, LASIK (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) procedure is being made popular for vision correction.
    Which one of the following statements in this context is not correct ?
    • (a) LASIK procedure is used to correct refractive errors of the eye
    • (b) It is a procedure that permanently changes the shapes of cornea
    • (c) It reduces a person's dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
    • (d) It is a procedure that can be done on the person of any age
    Correct Answer: (D) It is a procedure that can be done on the person of any age
18. [2010] Widespread resistance of malarial parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malarial vaccine to combat malaria. Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine ?
    • (a) Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium
    • (b) Man does not develop, immunity to malaria during natural infection
    • (c) Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria
    • (d) Man is only an intermediate host not the definitive host.
    Correct Answer: (A) Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium