Type: Prelims Only

Why in the News?

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that India has successfully eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem.
  • This makes India the third country in the Southeast Asia Region to achieve this milestone.

What is Trachoma?

• Trachoma is a bacterial infection that affects the eyes.
• It is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia Trachomatis.
• It is contagious, spreading through contact with the eyes, eyelids, or secretions from the nose or throat of an infected person.
• If untreated, Trachoma can lead to irreversible blindness.

Trachoma in India: A Historical Perspective

• In the 1950s and 1960s, Trachoma was one of the leading causes of blindness in India.
• To tackle this, India launched the National Trachoma Control Program in 1963.
• Later, these efforts were integrated into India’s National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB).
  • In 1971, the rate of blindness due to trachoma was 5% in the country.
  • Due to various interventions under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), the rate has now dropped to less than 1%.

What are the key measures taken to eliminate Trachoma?

• India implemented the WHO SAFE strategy across the country. This strategy includes:

1. Surgery
2. Antibiotics
3. Facial hygiene
4. Environmental cleanliness

• Although by 2017, India was declared free from infective Trachoma, it continued surveillance of Trachoma cases from 2019 to 2024.

Why in the News?

Rwanda has reported a Marburg virus outbreak with several confirmed cases and deaths, making it a country of concern for public health.

About the Marburg Virus

• The Marburg virus is a highly dangerous virus that causes Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), also known as Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever.
• It belongs to the same family of viruses as Ebola (the filovirus family).
• MVD has a case fatality rate that can range from 24% to 88%, depending on the virus strain and how cases are managed.
• The virus was first identified in 1967 during simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany.

How does it spread?

• The Marburg virus initially spreads from animals to humans, primarily through exposure to Rousettus bats, particularly the Egyptian fruit bat, found in caves or mines.
• Once a person is infected, it can spread from human to human through:
  • Direct contact with the blood, and bodily fluids (urine, saliva, sweat, vomit, feces, breast milk, and semen) of an infected person.
  • Indirect contact with surfaces or objects like bedding or clothing that have been contaminated with these fluids.
  • Medical workers are often at risk, especially during outbreaks, due to contact with patients when proper infection control practices are not followed.
  • The virus does NOT spread through the air like the common cold or flu.

Symptoms and Treatment

• Symptoms typically begin between 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus.
• Early symptoms are: High fever, severe headache, Muscle aches, Chills, Severe watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting. 
• As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms may develop, including: Bleeding (both internal and external) ex—blood in vomit and faeces.
• Patients often die 8 to 9 days after the onset of symptoms, primarily from severe blood loss and multiple organ failure.
• Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for MVD.  However, supportive care can improve the chances of survival.
• Supportive treatment includes:
  • Rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.
  • Treatment of specific symptoms like fever, pain, and diarrhoea.
  • Blood transfusions and oxygen therapy may be required for severe cases.