THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- October 25, 2016- Topic 1
Several subtypes and strains of avian
influenza viruses are now found around the world, some of them capable of
causing death among humans and others inflicting serious losses on poultry
farmers. The latest bird flu scare in New Delhi and elsewhere has been
triggered by the death of some free living birds in the city’s A.N. Jha Deer
Park, and 15 painted storks in the Gwalior zoo. Worrying as it is, early
detection and identification of the virus subtypes helps in launching
containment measures. As a major agricultural nation with a large poultry
industry, India has implemented an action plan formulated by the Centre’s
Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries to deal with avian
influenza. It incorporates a clear protocol for preventive checks and testing,
for reporting an outbreak, removing farmed birds from an affected area and
compensating farmers. The outbreaks in Kerala and Karnataka over the past two
years have tested the efficacy of the intervention strategy. It came as a
relief when on September 5 India declared itself free of the H5N1 virus,
identified by the World Health Organisation as the animal influenza virus of
greatest concern for human health. Considering that the virus is endemic in
parts of Asia and mutates quickly, the need for vigilant monitoring against its
reintroduction and spread cannot be overstated.
The Delhi government’s finding that the
virus associated with the bird deaths in the capital is the H5N8 type hints at
the possible role of migratory water fowl, which are known to carry this virus
to wintering grounds. Zoos across the country are at risk, since they often
have waterbodies within or nearby, attracting winter visitors. A more recent
cause for concern has been the virus strain H7N9 that caused serious illness in
people mostly in China, but not in birds. On the positive side, the national
plan to combat avian influenza relies on a broad-based periodic testing system
for farmed birds and wet markets, and upgrading of apex scientific institutions
such as the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal. The
efficacy of the measures naturally depends on the alacrity with which the
animal husbandry apparatus at the State level collects samples and sounds the
alarm when a disease outbreak is imminent. There is a case to tighten the
functioning of this machinery, given the impact on people and agriculture, and
for a national-level report to be published each year. Border regions that
trade in live poultry have a particularly important responsibility to look out
for sick birds. Public health messaging, with advice on poultry consumption
during a suspected outbreak, is essential to quell any rumours.
Vocabulary
Strains: a force tending to pull or stretch something to an extreme or damaging
degree.
Example: The usual type of chair puts an enormous strain on the spine
Synonyms: tension, tightness, tautness
Inflicting: cause (something unpleasant or painful) to be suffered by someone or
something.
Example: They inflicted serious injuries on three other men
Synonyms: administer to, deliver to, deal out to, dispense to, mete
out to, impose on
Storks: a tall long-legged wading bird with a long heavy bill and typically with
white and black plumage.
Example: Other migratory birds observed in the shallow waters were bar headed geese,
open bill storks
Scare: a sudden attack of fright.
Example: Gosh, that gave me a scare!
Synonyms: fright, shock, start, turn, jump, heart
attack
Efficacy: the ability to produce a desired or intended result.
Example: There is little information on the efficacy of this treatment
Synonyms: effectiveness, success, productiveness, potency, power, benefit
Endemic: an endemic plant or animal.
Example: Most species of Metagentiana are herbaceous local endemics growing in
alpine scrub, meadows and coniferous forests.
Overstated: express or state too strongly; exaggerate.
Example: I may have overstated my case to make my point
Synonyms: exaggerate, overdo, overemphasize, overplay, dramatize, embroider
Fowl: a gallinaceous bird kept chiefly for its eggs and flesh; a domestic cock or
hen.
Example: Although this assumption has not been rigorously tested in wild bird
populations, data from domestic fowl suggest that, indeed, immunocompetence
measurements might not be antigen specific.
Alacrity: brisk and cheerful readiness.
Example: She accepted the invitation with alacrity
Synonyms: eagerness, willingness, readiness, enthusiasm, ardor, avidity, fervor
Apparatus: the technical equipment or machinery needed for a particular activity or
purpose.
Example: Laboratory apparatus
Synonyms: equipment, gear, rig, tackle, gadgetry, appliance, instrument, machine
Tighten: make or become tight or tighter.
Example: Tighten the bolts
Synonyms: pull taut, tauten, pull tight, stretch, tense; narrow, constrict, contract