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- A recent study has found that melioidosis in Odisha shows distinct seasonal patterns, with the highest number of infections occurring during and after the monsoon season.
- About Melioidosis:
- Melioidosis is a bacterial infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. This bacteria thrives in water bodies like rivers, streams, lakes, and soil, primarily in tropical or subtropical regions. It is commonly found in Southeast Asia, northern Australia, much of the Indian subcontinent, southern China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The disease is also known as Whitmore’s disease. It is associated with a high fatality rate, ranging from 16% to 50% in areas where it is endemic.
- Transmission: Both humans and animals can be infected with melioidosis, but it is not transmitted from animals to humans. The bacteria spread through direct contact with contaminated water, soil, or air. The incidence of melioidosis tends to rise after severe weather events such as hurricanes or heavy rainfall, as these conditions bring the bacteria to the surface of the soil. In endemic regions, melioidosis mostly affects adults aged 40 to 60 with certain pre-existing health conditions, while children under 15 are rarely affected.
- Symptoms: Melioidosis can present in various forms, including localized infections (such as abscesses), pneumonia, meningoencephalitis, sepsis, or chronic suppurative infections. Symptoms vary depending on the infection site, but they commonly include fever, headache, localized pain or swelling, ulceration, chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and swelling of lymph nodes.
- Treatment: Melioidosis is treatable with antibiotics. In some cases, long-term antibiotic treatment may be required for chronic infections.
- New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, foreign ministers from at least 18 nations, senior executives from numerous global companies, and leading foreign policy experts will gather in the national capital for the annual Raisina Dialogue.
- About the Raisina Dialogue:
- The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing challenges faced by the global community. It is inspired by renowned events like the Munich Security Conference and Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue. The conference has been held annually in New Delhi since 2016. It features a diverse, multi-stakeholder format that brings together heads of state, cabinet ministers, local government officials, and influential figures from the private sector, media, and academia. The event is organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. It is supported by a wide range of institutions, organizations, and individuals who are aligned with the conference's goals. The theme of the Raisina Dialogue 2025 is "Kalachakra: People. Peace. Planet."
- In the largest increase in more than two years, the country’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $15.267 billion, reaching $653.966 billion recently.
- About Foreign Exchange Reserves:
- Foreign Exchange Reserves, or Forex Reserves, are foreign currency assets held by a country’s central bank. These reserves include foreign marketable securities, monetary gold, special drawing rights (SDRs), and the reserve position in the IMF. They are typically denominated in US dollars, which serves as the international standard for valuation. China holds the largest foreign exchange reserves in the world. In India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is responsible for managing and safeguarding the foreign exchange reserves.
- India’s foreign exchange reserves consist of:
- Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs): These are held in various currencies such as the US dollar, euro, British pound, Australian dollar, and Japanese yen.
- Gold
- SDR (Special Drawing Rights): This is an international reserve asset with the IMF.
- RTP (Reserve Tranche Position): This is the capital reserved with the IMF.
- The primary contributor to India’s Forex reserves is foreign currency assets, followed by gold.
- Purpose: Foreign exchange reserves ensure that the country has enough liquidity to conduct international transactions or address a balance of payments deficit. Central banks use these reserves to intervene in Forex markets and influence their currency’s exchange rate. For instance, if the value of the Indian Rupee falls due to increased demand for foreign currencies, the RBI may sell US dollars in the domestic market to curb depreciation and stabilize the Rupee. A country with substantial Forex reserves enjoys a strong reputation globally, as trading nations can trust that payments will be secure.