Daily English Vocab
PDF 27th Oct 2016
Bird flu and what we must do
Several subtypes and strains of avian (पक्षी सबं ध
ं ी) influenza viruses are now found around the world,
some of them capable of causing death among humans and others inflicting (पहंचाई/पीडा पहंचाना)
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 (क्रोंच पक्षी) in the Gwalior zoo. Worrying as it is, early detection and identification of the
virus subtypes helps in launching containment (रोकथाम) 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 (प्रभावकाररता/प्रभावोत्पादकता) of the
intervention (हस्तक्षेप) strategy. It came as a when on September 5 India declared itself free of the
H5N1 virus, identified by the World Health Organization as the animal influenza virus of greatest
concern for human health. Considering that the virus is endemic (स्थानीय/प्रांततक) in parts of Asia and
mutates (रूपांतररत होना) 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 water bodies 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 (प्रततरोध करना) avian influenza relies on a broad-based periodic testing
system for farmed birds and wet markets, and upgrading of apex (सवोच्च) scientific institutions such
as the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal. The efficacy of the measures
naturally depends on the alacrity (तत्परता/उत्साह) with which the animal husbandry apparatus at the
State level collects samples and sounds the alarm when a disease outbreak is imminent
(तनकटस्थ/सतननकट). 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 (शानत करना/दबाना) any rumors.
(Courtesy: The Hindu)
1. Inflict (verb): Cause (something unpleasant or painful) to be suffered by someone or
something. (पहच
ं ाई/पीडा पहच
ं ाना)
 Synonyms: Chastise, Penalize, Punish.
 Antonyms: Aid, Please, Help.
Example: They inflicted serious injuries on three other men in an accident.
Verb forms: Inflict, Inflicted, Inflicted.
Related words:
 Infliction (noun): कष्ट देना
2. Containment (noun): The action of keeping something harmful under control or within
limits. (रोकथाम)
 Synonyms: Curb, Restrains, Regulation, Control.
 Antonyms: Inability, Powerlessness, Outbreak.
Example: The containment of the virus involves putting it in a sealed container inside of a freezer.
Verb forms: Contain, Contained, Contained.
Related words:
 Contain (verb): ननयंनित करना
3. Efficacy (noun): The ability to produce a desired or intended result. (प्रभावकाररता/प्रभावोत्पादकता)
 Synonyms: Ability, Capability, Capacity, Effectiveness, Potency.
 Antonyms: Impotence, Inability, Unproductiveness, Inability.
Example: Fortunately, the medicine had the efficacy to reduce the amount of pain John was
feeling.
Related words:
 Efficacious (adjective) – प्रभावशाली

Efficaciously (adverb) - प्रभावी पर्ू ण तरीके से

Efficient (adjective) - कायणक्षम
4. Intervention (noun): The action or process of interference. (हस्तक्षेप)
 Synonyms: Interference, Interruption, Intervention, Obstruction, Hindrance.
 Antonyms: Aiding, Helpful, Suggestive.
Example: Our nation’s intervention in another country’s war could pull us into the crisis.
Verb forms: Intervene, Intervened, Intervened.
Related words:
 Intervene (verb) - हस्तक्षेप करना

Intervening (adjective) - मध्यवती
5. Endemic (adjective) : (of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or
in a certain area. (स्थानीय/प्रांततक)


Synonyms: Local, Regional, Pertaining to origination.
Antonyms: Alien, Extrinsic, Outward.
Example: The poisonous snake must have come from another country because it is not endemic
to our nation.
Related words:
 Endemically (adverb) - स्थाननक रूप से
6. Mutate (verb): Change in form or nature. (रूपांतररत होना)
 Synonyms: Change, Metamorphose, Evolve, Transform, Alter.
 Antonyms: Remain, Stay, Same.
Example: To test a mutation in the disease, the hospital set up a research group.
Verb forms: Mutate, Mutated, Mutated.
Related words:
 Mutation (noun): पररवतणन
7. Apex (noun): The top or highest part of something, especially one forming a point. (सवोच्च)
 Synonyms: Peak, Summit, Pinnacle, Top, Crest, Vertex.
 Antonyms: Base, Nadir, Bottom.
Example: At the apex of our country sits the president of our nation.
8. Alacrity (noun): Brisk and cheerful readiness. (तत्परता/उत्साह)
 Synonyms: Enthusiasm, Ardor, Fervor, Keenness, Joyousness, Liveliness, Zeal.
 Antonyms: Apathy, Dullness, Lethargy, Reluctance.
Example: Her alacrity to learn more about biology grew as she diligently studied the subject.
9. Imminent: (adjective) About to happen; in proximity. (तनकटस्थ/सतननकट)
 Synonyms: Adjacent, Impending, Proximate, Forthcoming, Likely.
 Antonyms: Distant, Later, Escapable.
Example: When the Secret Service arrived, everyone knew the president’s arrival was imminent.
Related words:
 Imminence (noun) – सनननकटता

Imminently (adverb) - सनननकटता से
10. Quell (verb): Put an end to; suppress. (शानत करना/दबाना)
 Synonyms: Calm, Settle, Tranquilize, Mitigate, Put down.
 Antonyms: Agitate, Aggravate, Build up, Encourage.
Example: During the riots, over five hundred policemen worked to quell the uproar.
Verb forms: Quell, Quelled, Quelled.
Related words:
 Quelling (noun) – शमन
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