Context
A female elephant died due to anthrax at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve
About Anthrax:
- Also known as malignant pustule or woolsorter’s disease, is a serious infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium.
- Naturally Occurring: Found naturally in soil, Bacillus anthracis infects both domestic and wild animals around the world.
- It was used as a biological weapon in 2001 in the United States.
- Transmission:
- Zoonotic Disease: Anthrax is transmissible from animals (usually vertebrates) to humans, making it a zoonotic disease.
- Human Infection: Humans can get infected through direct contact with infected animals or animal products contaminated with the bacteria.
- Non-Contagious: Anthrax is generally non-contagious among humans, though rare cases of person-to-person transmission have occurred.
- Occurrence in India:
- Anthrax is more common in southern states of India (e.g., Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa), and less frequent in the northern states.
- Past reports have shown anthrax in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Karnataka.
- Treatment:
- Early Antibiotic Therapy: Prompt antibiotic treatment is effective in managing anthrax.
- Prevention:
- Vaccination of Livestock: Vaccination of animals is the primary method to prevent the spread of anthrax to humans.
- Human Vaccines: Vaccines are available for humans, but typically only for high-risk individuals (e.g., lab workers, people who handle animals).
Bioweapons
- Bioweapons are biological agents (such as bacteria, viruses, or toxins) used intentionally to cause disease or death in humans, animals, or plants.
- They are classified as a form of biological warfare.
- Biological Agents
- Bacteria: Pathogenic microorganisms that cause diseases (e.g., Bacillus anthracis for anthrax).
- Viruses: Pathogens that require a host cell for reproduction (e.g., smallpox).
- Toxins: Poisonous substances produced by living organisms (e.g., botulinum toxin).
Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)
- Enforced: 1975, negotiated in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Aim: Prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological weapons.
- Signatories: 183 countries, including US, Russia, Ukraine, and India.
- Significance: First treaty to ban an entire category of WMDs, promoting norms against biological weapons.
- Review Conferences: Held every five years since 1980, with eight conferences to date.
- Issues: Lacks an implementation body; no provisions to ensure compliance, leading to potential violations.
Source: TOI
Previous Year Question
India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation
(b) It can attain a global role in satellite navigation
(c) It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation
(d) It can build fusion reactors for power generation
Answer: (d)
