George Floyd mural in Mauerpark, Berlin. (Leonhard Lenz/Wikimedia Commons)

On 25th May in Minneapolis, George Floyd was killed after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck. The video was recorded and circulated on social media, forcing people out of their homes in resistance against the systemic oppression of the black population in the USA. People defied COVID lockdown and quarantine measures demanding an end to racial profiling by the police.

As the protests around the country and the world gained momentum, the man who knelt on Floyd’s neck was arrested on murder charges.

George Floyd’s killing refreshed the memories of police brutality in the past, the killing of Michael Ferguson and Eric Garner in 2014 and the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man out on a jog in February 2020. These are not a few isolated cases, American history is stained with racial killings rooted in white supremacy.

How it all began

Racism in the USA finds its roots in the 17th century when people from Africa were kidnapped and brought over to the British colonies in America by the Englishmen. They served as cheap and plentiful labour and around 6-7 million Africans were enslaved in America during the 18th century. And thus began the black slavery and degradation of a minority community by the majority.

Slave market in Atlanta Georgia, 1864. (Library of Congress)

People of the Black community were employed as labourers in tobacco, rice, indigo and cotton plantations. They were prohibited from reading, writing lest they opt for careers built for the white community. Their movements and interactions were restricted, and they were circumscribed to certain areas of the town. These areas remained impoverished, depriving them of basic amenities like healthcare, education, etc.

Slavery

After the American Revolution, the colonists in North America felt their oppression was linked to the oppression of the Black population. Their views and opinions were in conflict with those in South America, who heavily relied on Black men and women for heavy labour. This conflicted over enslavement led to the Civil War between North America and South America in 1861, and ended in 1865 leading to the abolishment of slavery.

Scars of a whipped Mississippi slave, photo taken on  April 2, 1863. (Mathew Brady)

Civil War

After the Civil War ended,—Jim Crow laws enforced and enacted racial segregation. These laws and black codes, restricted movement of people from the African-American community, forbade them from living in white neighbourhoods. These not only held them from integrating into the community as equals but also marginalized in public schools, hospitals, etc. They weren’t granted the right to vote, and the children of the community were often taken away for slavery.

Halifax County Courthouse in North Carolina. (Library of Congress)

A segregated entrance of movie house in Mississippi Delta, Mississippi. (Library of Congress)

Theatre for colored people. (Dorothea Lange/LOC)

Those who defied these laws were subjected to violence, arrested and even faced death penalties. Crime against the minority increased as a result. It was during this period, a secret society—Ku Klux Klan terrorized and vandalized areas inhabited by the black population.

A sign on a restaurant: “We Cater to White Trade only.” in Lancaster, Ohio, circa 1938. (Ben Shahn/LOC)

Racial segregation was outlawed in 1964 after the landmark Civil Rights Act was passed. Complete integration and acceptance of the black population with the majority was and is still far from reality. Black people are still treated as second-class citizens and even though slave patrol was outlawed, police officers do not hesitate to pull a trigger on a man, woman or even a kid of black community. According to a report, police violence based on racial profiling is one of the leading causes of death for black men in the United States.

Ruby Bridges being escorted from William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans by U. S. Marshals after a Federal court ordered the desegregation of schools, 1960. (DOJ photographer)

A global organization by the name Black Lives Matter was founded in 2013 to fight the systemic oppression, lynchings and to seek equality, justice and peace for the Black community and to eradicate white supremacy.

Today, protests continue for the seventeenth day after George Floyd’s murder, with many Hollywood celebrities coming out to support the black community.

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The gate of The Poison Garden. (Amanda Slater/Flickr)

One might know the Alnwick Castle for the Harry Potter fame—was used as a location for the famous Hogwarts school in the first two movies. But that’s not the only interesting titbit of the castle in North England, adjacent to it is the Alnwick Garden. It is over 12 acres of land and attracts around 600,000 visitors annually. While in most of the gardens, visitors may be allowed to pluck flowers, here they are prohibited from tasting, touching or even smelling any plant or flower. One might wonder why? The reason lies beyond the iron gates; these gates lead to the Poison Garden, that houses around 100 intoxicating and narcotic plants. Although it is situated in the Alnwick Garden, Poison Garden is open for guided tours only.

The foundation and transformation of the Alnwick Garden

The cascade at the centre of The Alnwick Garden. (TSP/Wikimedia Commons)

The foundation for Alnwick garden was laid back in 1750 by the first Duke of Northumberland and was later developed by his successors until it was closed in 1950 due to the shabby mess it had grown to be. And it remained in those desperate conditions until the 12th Duke and Duchess of Northumberland moved into the castle and the Duchess, Jane Percy, took it upon herself to revamp and redevelop the Alnwick Garden in 1997. She hired Belgian landscape artists Jacques and Peter Wirtz to redo the garden. The garden went under direly needed transformation for four years and was opened to the public in 2001. The transformation took place in phases, and the Poison Garden was completed only in 2005.

The Poison Garden has around 100 toxic, intoxicating, and narcotic plants. (Graeme/Flickr)

Cannabis sativa. (madraban/Flickr)

The idea for the Poison Garden was inspired from the Duchess’ trip to the infamous Medici Poison Garden in Florence, Italy. And it was further cemented by her visit to the largest hospital in medieval Scotland wherein soporific sponges soaked in opium, hemlock and other plant herbs were used to anaesthetize amputees during 15th century surgeries. This reinforced the idea of a Poison Garden with a mission to attract children and to educate them on drug usage.

Plant varieties in the Poison Garden

The Poison Garden has over a hundred different varieties of toxic plants that have been collected from all over the world and replanted there. Strychnos Nux-vomica, a plant native to India, found its place in the garden. Strychnos is a source of alkaloid pesticide strychnine which results in muscular convulsion and even death. The pesticide is present in its bark, seeds and fruits.

Another plant that is exhibited in the garden is the Hemlock plant—Conium Maculatum. It contains coniine and other toxic alkaloids—found in seeds, roots and leaves, and may lead to death on inhalation of the contents. It was the contents of this plant that were used to make a poisonous beverage to kill Socrates.

Other varieties include Ricinus Communis, Foxglove, Atropa Belladonna, Brugmansia, Laburnum, etc. All these plants and trees, upon inhalation, result in intoxication-the least side effect, and visitors often faint while walking around the garden as they inhale the toxic fumes.

Ricinus communis (Castor oil plant). (Alvesgaspar/Wikimedia Commons)

Some of these cause delirium and hallucinations. The seemingly non-toxic of this bunch is the Laburnum, it is also known as a golden chain or golden rain because of the hanging yellow flowers that grow on this tree.

Laburnum or golden chain plant. (fallonrw/Pixabay)

It is predominantly seen in Europe and was grown as a common garden tree until children started falling sick by inhaling the toxic fumes from it. All parts of the tree are toxic and result in nausea, headache, vomiting, convulsions and even death through paralysis.

The Poison Garden, as infamous as it is, is a fascinating exhibit to look at and walkthrough, albeit cautiously. All the grandeur of the Alnwick Castle aside, this garden garners curiosity and interest like nothing else does.

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Creeping Baby Doll Patent Model at the National Museum of American History. (Smithsonian)

Toys have a great impact on babies and toddlers and their cognitive development. With amusement and play, toys help them recognize and identify texture, colours, shapes and numbers—one of the many positive effects of getting the right toys. But not all toys are amusing, one such toy is the Creeping Baby Doll by Robert J. Clay. The name is a misnomer; the toymaker didn’t mean to fright babies with the doll, but creeping in earlier days meant crawling. This Creeping (crawling) Baby Doll, Clay said, was “a very amusing toy and produced at a small cost”.

Built in the 19th Century, the objective of this toy was to imitate human life and stimulate childhood development. In the 19th Century, crawling was considered unnatural and unfit for a sane human being and was thought to be a morally suspicious act, attributed to insanity and animal life. It was later in the mid-19th Century that crawling was accepted and normalized as a natural stage of development. This toy was built in 1871 to familiarize babies and kids with the concept and to amuse them. But rarely were they amused, the targeted audience—baby girls found them unattractive and scurried far from these mechanical toys.

Creeping Baby Doll. (Smithsonian)

Read more: The Man Who Could Turn His Head Around By 180 Degrees

The patent model of the toy built by Robert J. Clay in 1871 looked forbidding and weighed more than what babies could hold and little girls could carry. This unusual, non-cuddly and non-interactive toy didn’t appeal to the audience but found its market as a novelty. The head, arms and legs of the toy were made with painted plaster; legs and arms were attached to a brass clockwork that would activate the arms and legs to imitate movements of crawling. The doll body had two hidden wheels underneath that would help in moving forward by rolling.

Creeping baby doll patent. (United States Patent and Trademark Office)

Robert J. Clay was granted the patent for the toy on 14th March 1871. Following this, a better and improved version of the Creeping Baby Doll was made by Clay’s employee, George P. Clarke, who received a patent for his model on 29th August 1871. In 1872, Robert J. Clay further improvised the original model and invented the Crying Creeping Baby Doll, that not only crawled but also produced sounds emulating human baby cries.

This mechanical toy, patented by George P. Clarke, is now exhibited in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

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A moose swimming at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan. (NPS staff)

Predation and hunting is an important part of the food chain and has a greater impact on the ecosystem. We all know man occupies the top tier as an apex predator, but besides humans, Killer whales are the dominant and powerful apex predators. Killer whales, also known as Bigg’s Orca, named so after Dr Michael Bigg—founder of modern whale research, have a diverse diet, prey and feast on fishes, penguins, seals, whales, such as humpback whales, and sea lions. Even seabirds are often preyed upon by them, besides marine mammals and birds, they feed on moose or elks as they are known in America and Eurasia, respectively.

Both these animals occupy different habitats yet have an interesting predator-prey relationship. Killer whales are widely distributed in oceans and seas and adapt to all types of climate, thus are found around coastal regions of most of the countries. While moose are territorial animals, that live in boreal and mixed forests of Northern Hemisphere, mainly in Canada.

A bull moose swimming across Glenns Lake. Glacier National Park, Montana, United States. (Jeff P/Flickr)

A pod of orcas swims in Glacier Bay. (NPS)

Killer whales, Orcinus Orca, belong to the dolphin family of toothed whales. While moose, Alces Alces belongs to the subfamily of deers. Both these mammals are the largest members of their respective families. Killer Whales have a large dorsal fin and are black and white coloured; moose have a striking appearance—black in colour, have broad and large palmate/dendritic antlers.

Killer whale emerging from water. (Robert Pittman/NOAA)

Bigg’s Orca are carnivores that feed exclusively on marine mammals—their four-inch-long conical 40-56 teeth, make them most feared and invincible predators. Whereas,  moose are herbivores feeding on shrubs, tree barks, twigs, leaves, etc.

In summers, moose prefer to feed on aquatic vegetation, and this search for food makes them vulnerable to attacks by marine predators, i.e., Killer Whales. moose are often preyed and hunted by bears, wolves and humans, and although we have tales of Orca feeding on moose, there aren’t any solid pieces of evidence barring one or two. moose when swimming island to island in search of food, often become defenceless and their speed in water is decreased too thus making them a choicest and rare delicacy for the top-tier marine predators.

The killing of moose by Killer Whale is not unfathomable, as the latter is known to feed on anything and everything it lays its teeth on. And rare instances of Killer whales feeding on moose have been reported, but it’s not certain if it feeds on live animals, thus killing them or feed on the carcass floating in the ocean. These reports and speculations are from findings of deer carcasses in the ocean, but the possibilities could vary. There aren’t enough documented evidence to suggest if moose is a part of Killer Whale’s regular diet and if Killer Whale is a natural moose predator, but the possibilities and conjectures make this water mystery a fascinating tale.

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Indian States of West Bengal and Odisha on the Eastern coast are hit by one of the worst storms of the Bay of Bengal—cyclone Amphan, leaving a trail of destruction of houses and buildings, uprooting trees and electricity poles, swamping low-lying areas, flooding of Kolkata International Airport and killing 72 in West Bengal. The migrant labourers who lost their sources of livelihood due to the lockdown, now lose their homes in the Cyclonic storm—as the calamity has been described by the Indian Meteorological Department.

Here are nine (8) points on the ongoing Super Cyclone Amphan

• The India Meteorological Department said the extremely severe cyclonic storm crossed the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) across the Sunderbans (West Bengal) near latitude 21.65N & longitude 88.3E between 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm with wind speeds of 155-165 kmph, gusting to 185 kmph. In Kolkata, wind speeds quickly went from 69 kmph to about 105 kmph a little before 6 pm, and kept increasing in intensity thereafter. The districts of East Midnapore, South 24-Parganas and North 24-Parganas were the worst affected.

• Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, said the impact of the Cyclone is worse than the global pandemic—Coronavirus and the damages in the region could be around Rs 1 lakh crore.
• Weather in various parts of the country has been affected and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), on Twitter, advised people against going out until the Government issues all clear messages. Rainfall is expected throughout the Northeast.

Read more: How do we estimate the intensity of tropical cyclones?

• The Indian Met Department issued a warning to western districts of Assam,

“Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara districts in Assam” said a release. “While these western districts are experiencing heavy rainfall and winds, the other parts of the state will have light to moderate rains — expected through the day,” said an official from the IMD.

• Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi said No stone will be left unturned in helping the affected, tweeted PM Modi and that the central government is closely monitoring the situation to for assistance.
  

  May 20, 2020: Satellite imagery of super cyclonic storm Amphan. (NASA)

• Timely and accurate forecast by the Indian Met Department and rapid response by the NDRF helped in minimising damage to human lives—considering Cyclone Amphan to be the second strongest cyclone, only after 1999 super cyclone of Odisha. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel reached the majorly impacted areas and began to clear and restore the roads.

• Over five lakhs and two lakh people have been evacuated and placed in shelters in West Bengal and Odisha, respectively.

• UNICEF, said at least 19 million children in Bangladesh and India, are at imminent risk from flash flooding and heavy rainfalls because of the cyclone. It also added the COVID crisis could deepen the humanitarian consequences of the cyclone in both the countries. Evacuees who have moved to crowded temporary shelters would be especially vulnerable to the spread of respiratory diseases like Covid-19, and other infections. “We continue to monitor the situation closely,” UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia Jean Gough was quoted as saying by PTI.

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Twitter on Thursday, 12th May 2020, announced employees can work from home indefinitely. Twitter employees have been working remotely since March in the wake of global lockdown due to COVID-19.

CEO of the social media giant, Jack Dorsey emailed the employees notifying them of the change, and it comes with no loss of pay. In the email, Dorsey said the company wouldn’t likely return to its offices before September, and even after lockdown measures end, employees could continue work from home if they want. This excludes, workers and staff who are required to be physically present in office premises such as those maintaining work servers.

“The past few months have proven we can make that work. So if our employees are in a role and situation that enables them to work from home and they want to continue to do so forever, we will make that happen. If not, our offices will be their warm and welcoming selves, with some additional precautions, when we feel it’s safe to return.”

– read a statement published on the Twitter blog.

This move was preceded with Facebook and Google allowing work from home till the end of the year, although offices are scheduled to reopen in July.

Companies world over are working out of ways to reopen office and make the spaces safe in accordance with the social distancing measures.

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Scarlett with her kittens after being rescued. (Scarlett Facebook page / Used with permission)

LOVE THAT KNOWS no bounds and is unconditional is that of a mother’s. It is this love that gives them the power and courage to sacrifice their self for the wellbeing and safety of their children. This emotion is not unique to human beings but is innate to every living being, including animals and birds.

On this Mother’s Day, we commemorate Scarlett, a former stray cat. Her heroic efforts of saving her kittens from the enormous fires made her a household name, and an admired pet. Many non-fiction books, magazine articles and TV shows have given a tribute to her and her heroism.

The unfortunate incident

A stray cat, most probably born in June or July 1995 found shelter in a garage in Brooklyn, New York, with her five kittens. Here, she stayed with them till a fire broke out in the garage in 1996. As the New York Fire Department reached the spot and controlled the blaze and extinguished the fire, one of the firefighters noticed a kitten outside the garage. Her mother, Scarlett had saved her. As the firefighters doused the fire, Scarlett was rescuing her kittens one by one. In the process she sustained major injuries—blisters on her eyes, her hair on her body was almost burned away giving her burnt ears, paws and fur. After rescuing all her five kittens safely, Scarlett fell unconscious outside the garage.

Scarlett at the NSALA, an animal rescue and adoption organization in New York. (Scarlett Facebook page / Used with permission)

Scarlett undergoing treatment at the medical center. (Scarlett Facebook page / Used with permission)

Aftermath

Scarlett along with her children was rushed to North Shore Animal League America, where they were treated. One of the kittens succumbed to a virus after a month. The rest of the family recovered after three months of continuous treatment. Following the recovery, Scarlett and her babies were put for adoption.

The Animal League was flooded with over 7000 applications and inquires. Scarlett and her family had an army of admirers wanting to take them in as a family. Eventually, the kittens had to be divided into two groups, the four of them were adopted by two different families in a pair and Wellen family adopted Scarlett. Karen Wellen had recently lost her own cat to injuries after an accident. This made her more compassionate towards Scarlett and the Animal league found her most suitable for Scarlett.

Scarlette getting adopted. (Scarlett Facebook page / Used with permission)

Scarlette with Karen Wellen, her new owner. (Scarlett Facebook page / Used with permission)

Scarlett required continuous care and treatment for her injuries and heart murmur she developed during her time in the Animal League. In 2007, at the age of 13 (68 in human years), she was diagnosed with inoperable lymphoma and after months of treatment chemotherapy, Scarlett was laid to rest in October 2008 as the family couldn’t see their beloved cat suffer. In the same month, National Geographic Kids’ Magazine enlisted Scarlett as one of their top ten cats.

Scarlette at NSALA office not long after she was diagnosed with lymphoma. (Scarlett Facebook page / Used with permission)

Living with the Wellens, Scarlett received abundant love at home and outside. She continued being in the media limelight and received prestigious honours and titles, made news headlines in various news outlets and also caught Oprah Winfrey’s fancy. The Animal League, a medical centre at which she was a regular visitor, created an animal heroism award in her name.

Scarlette trying to share a meal. (Scarlett Facebook page / Used with permission)

Scarlette resting in a box. (Scarlett Facebook page / Used with permission)

Scarlett taking a nap. (Scarlett Facebook page / Used with permission)

A photo in memory of Scarlett. (Scarlett Facebook page / Used with permission)

Years after her death, Scarlett continues to live in peoples’ heart and a Facebook page created and run by Karen Wellen. To this day, she’s featured and remembered for heroism and her motherly instinct.

Enjoyed this article? Also, check out “Bobbie the Wonder Dog: Uplifting Story of a Separated Dog that Travelled 2500 Miles to Return Home“.

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Photo used for illustration purpose only. (pxfuel)

AROUND 3 AM ON THURSDAY, residents of villages around Visakhapatnam flocked out of their homes looking for safer spaces as the air around them grew pungent and suffocated them. Gas leakage in one of the storage tanks at the LG Polymer plant at Gopalapatnam—outskirts of Visakhapatnam, disrupted everyone’s sleep. The plant reopened for the first time since COVID-19 lockdown.

As the plant activities were being resumed gas spread to around five villages within a radius of 3 kilometres, 11 people including a minor have died and around 1000 people have been reported sick. 

The gas leaked—Styrene known as vinylbenzene or cinnamene or ethenylbenzene or phenylethylene is a synthetic hazardous and toxic chemical. Styrene is used manufacturing plastics and plastic-like compounds like polystyrene and resins, rubbers, fibreglass etc. Experts say, negligence before resuming the plant operations along with lack of proper storage, i.e. not at an optimal temperature, could have resulted in the gas leakage.

As people rushed out of their homes and informed the authorities, Police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team started evacuating people to nearby safer villages and those who complained of breathing difficulties, and irritation of the eyes were rushed to the hospitals.

Dangers of Styrene

Styrene, a derivative of benzene is a probable carcinogen, can cause cancer. The effects on the human body depend on the duration of exposure and intensity of inhalation. As per the US-based Environment Protection Agency (EPA), short term effects of the gas include sore eyes, irritation of the skin and mucous membrane resulting in gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract complaints.

Long term exposure leads to serious multiple complications and could increase the risk of leukaemia and lymphoma, the studies remain inconclusive in regards to styrene and increased cancer risk. 

Government efforts to contain the harmful gas

To neutralize the effects of styrene, the state government has airlifted around 500 tonnes of inhibitors like PTBC—Para-tertiary butyl catechol. And water sprinklers have been used to dissipate gas emissions.

Gopalapatnam Police has registered a criminal case against the plant management and the National Green Tribunal has taken cognisance about the case. In addition, Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued notices to both the State and Central governments.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y.S Jagan Reddy announced an ex-gratia payment of 1 Crore rupees each to the families of those killed in the tragedy. He also announced 10 lakhs and 25,000 each to those undergoing treatment on ventilator support and those treated as out-patients, respectively. Further, villages that were affected would be paid 10,000 rupees each.

This incident of Vizag gas leak brought back memories of a much more lethal and fatal accident of Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984. But this time, we hope proper inquiries are carried out and those responsible for the negligence are tried in all fairness in the courts.

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In the first of its kind of transparency, the Pentagon officially released three videos on 28th April 2020, these videos recorded in 2004 and 2015 captured alien objects. The examination into what they are and where remains incomplete, but the speculations are varied.

A UFO spinning in the air, January 2015. (Via www.sciencealert.com / Department of Defense)

First UFO sighting can be dated back to as early as 1440 BC in ancient Egypt, which was then described as fiery disks floating in the skies. “Aerial battle” was reported in 1561 celestial phenomenon over Nuremberg in the Roman Empire, a similar celestial phenomenon was observed five years later in 1566 in Switzerland. The credibility and factuality of these instances are suspicious. While some modern UFO enthusiasts classify as the battle of extra-terrestrial origin, others debunk these stories and classify them as atmospheric optical phenomena. Whatever the facts may be, one thing is for certain, man has always been intrigued by the aforesaid aerial objects.

Coming to more recent encounters, in 1942, the US army already in a war with Japan was caught off guard with unknown aerial raids. Although it was initially thought to be Japan’s aerial attack, the Japanese denied any such activity. The Battle of Los Angeles, as it is widely known, was the battle US fought with an unknown and unseen enemy. A few years later, it was reported the aerial strikes were the result of a weather balloon crash. Besides this seemingly apocalyptic encounter, the first sound encounter was reported in 1947—a flying saucer—nine shiny flying objects were observed in the sky by the pilot, Kenneth Arnold. After this report, a few more sightings and a crash were described in the same year. The crash—Roswell UFO crash, was later discredited by the United States Air Army Forces as a weather balloon crash again. ET life supporters, for a long time, were sceptical of the Army reports and considered it to be yet another conspiracy to cover up an extra-terrestrial landing.

The McMinnville UFO photographs are considered to the most famous photos of UFO ever taken. It was captured by Paul Trent on a farm near McMinnville, Oregon. (Wikimedia Commons)

The mystery surrounding these aerial objects or phenomenon is yet to be cracked, giving humankind a subject to muse over. The recent videos of unidentified aerial phenomena, UFO in simpler terms, released by the Pentagon once again fanned the imagination and curiosity of the human mind. Two of these videos were leaked in 2017 by the New York Times, but Department of Defense (DOD) remained tight-lipped, although acknowledged the existence of these videos.

The recent release, DOD said, is to clear misconceptions regarding the nature of the videos and speculations if there was more to these videos.

These videos, dating back to 2004 and 2015, are available on Naval Air Systems Command Web Site. The 2004 video recorded an unknown flying object being chased in Southern California by two Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets. Upon observing the speed and movement of this oblong object, it was popularly named Tic Tac. It instantaneously changed directions in the sky and according to the official government reports, it descended very rapidly, from 60,000 ft to 50 ft in a matter of seconds. The 2015 videos were recorded on the East Coast of USA. According to the interview given to the New York Times, the navy pilots encountered multiple flying objects in 2014 and 2015, between Virginia and Florida.

In the video, one of the pilots is heard calling them drones—drones that flew against the wind.

As with any UFO, the theories around these objects vary from person to person, those with a keen interest in sci-fi believe in alien activity, while the realists assess atmospheric illusions or secret military drills, satellites and drones. One may conclude these objects to be aircraft or drones, but their movement and speed are unlike any other aircraft. Perhaps could be AI-driven drones, one can never tell, as these objects upon detection scurried away. Their structures and origin are hard to discern from the videos—leaving a lot for human imagination and scientific and conspiracy theories. The truth and purpose of these Unidentified Aerial Phenomena or Unidentified Flying Objects will only be revealed with time.

Click: There is a UFO religion where people believe in extra-terrestrial beings called elohim

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Photo used for depiction. (Małgorzata / Pixabay)

In February 2020, as the outbreak of coronavirus was declared a pandemic, countries world over came to a halt. As the infection rates increased exponentially and the death toll continued to rise, governments urged their citizens to stay home to control the spread. Bustling cities transformed into ghost towns as people were forced to stay within their homes practising social and physical distancing. While this may help in reducing numbers and controlling the contagion, social distancing and isolation negatively impact the mental health of both people locked in and those working on front lines to save lives. And those already vulnerable are having a difficult time procuring medicines required for their mental health.

With 3,318,428 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 234,250 deaths, a half third of the world’s population is currently under a massive lockdown. It separates loved ones from their families as travel restrictions have been put in place. While this has separated the elderly from their kids and grandkids, it has also forced women to stay back with abusive partners. Cases of domestic violence have increased since the lockdown globally, and in some countries by 49%. Before the lockdown, the victims would find solace in the outside world through counsellors, family and friends, but the current fight against the pandemic has left them with no regular help.

 “Earlier, we used to get 900-1000 calls per day of domestic violence, eve-teasing, molestation and ever since the lockdown we get around 1000-1200 calls per day, mostly of domestic violence” reports India Today.

Mandatory work from home and online classes have majorly upset the routine of millions around the globe. Although people are finding new ways to stay connected, news and uncertainty regarding the situation and lack of outside contact have left people anxious and depressed. Constant news of the crisis and worries of dying family members has surged anxiety in young people. The situation is difficult to grapple with as adults, but even more so for children, as they find comfort in school and friends in times of need; with schools shut, children are having a difficult time coping with the situation.

For healthcare workers, things are not easy either at work or at home. From helplessly fighting to resuscitate their patients to wellness, to being ostracized by the community in fear of being infected, doctors and nurses are subjected to discrimination and harassment in India. There have been multiple reports of paranoid landlords evicting the doctors and police assaulting them while getting to work over the last month.

The paper The Psychological Impact of Quarantine and How to Reduce it published by Lancet studied mental health during the previous SARS epidemic; it highlights the stressors and a wide range of psychological conditions associated with quarantine. From post-traumatic stress symptoms to confusion, anger, depression, stress, insomnia and emotional exhaustion.

The publication also highlights the effects of stigmatization on healthcare workers. “Health-care workers also felt greater stigmatisation than the general public, exhibited more avoidance behaviours after quarantine, reported greater lost income and were consistently more affected psychologically: they reported substantially more anger, annoyance, fear, frustration, guilt, helplessness, isolation, loneliness, nervousness, sadness, worry, and were less happy,” read the paper.

According to this research paper, the psychological detriments and stressors are not limited to the period of quarantine but also post-quarantine. The stressors of post-quarantine include finances and stigma. It is clear from the research, fight against the COVID-19 will end one day but the detrimental impact the disease and the lockdown has on the mental health of millions around the world is long-lasting.

Enjoyed this article? Also, check out “Coronavirus and Other Deadly Outbreaks of the Past“.

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A painting of the battle of Guntur depicting the British confrontation with the Mysorean rockets. (Charles H. Hubbel / Wikimedia Commons)

The 18th Century ruler Tipu Sultan—the Tiger of Mysore or Sher e Mysore is known and admired for his bravery and heroic resistance against the British imperial forces. 

The image of Tipu’s Tiger, a wooden toy tiger pinning down an English officer, comes to mind when one thinks of Tipu Sultan. Tiger epitomizes Tipu Sultan and his rule; his throne, weapons and armour were decorated and embellished with tiger figures, while live tigers guarded his palace.

Born in 1750 as Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu to Hyder Ali—the Sultan of Mysore, he succeeded his father in 1782. Both of them known for nearly bringing the East India Company to ruins made the British empire quaver with fear. Riding on his father’s legacy, and strongly opposing the involvement of foreign rule and rulers, Tipu Sultan arrested the influence of the colonizers in his state.

Along with being a fierce and valiant warrior, Tipu Sultan is also known for the technological and administrative reforms he brought to the Kingdom before and after ascending the throne. Of the many reforms is his expansion of Hyder Ali’s use of rocketry, this led to the invention of early Mysorean rockets, that served as templates for present-day rockets. 

Transformation of traditional rockets

Rockets have been used for a long time in wars; the earliest records show the Chinese using rockets to fight the Mongol invaders in 1232 CE, followed by the Arabs, Mughals and even some European rulers. But these rockets were made of bamboos or cardboard and wood. The modernization of rockets was carried out by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan for fighting the colonial forces.

The Sultan of Mysore, Hyder Ali, innovated the gunpowder rockets to transform basic rockets into lethal weapons. This gunpowder gave the rockets a fierce bursting, a distinct odour and colour, and a terrifying noise.

These rockets were further enhanced by Tipu Sultan’s expertise and ingenuity and were encased in metal with the best mechanical structure. The deployment of rockets shook the British military and paralyzed them with fear in the Battle of Pollilur, during the First Anglo-Mysore War of 1780. Terrified and horrified British labelled the rockets “Flying Plagues”. We see a Mural depicting the victory scene of Mysore in the summer palace of Tipu Sultan at Darya Daulat Bagh in Srirangapatna. 

Mysorean rockets were a major shift from Chinese rockets that used bamboos for support. These rockets were the first weaponised metal rockets to be used in war. The iron casing allowed greater compression to the rockets with higher thrust and a larger range of 2.4 km, the farthest at that time. They were then fastened onto swords or poles for stability and better accuracy. The rockets had twin side sharpened blades mounted on them, and when fired in a group, spun and wreaked significant damage against a large army.

Operating the Mysorean rockets

On the military ground were specially trained rocket men or jauk as they were known in the royal court. These rocket men were part of the military since Hyder Ali’s regime and their strength only increased in Tipu Sultan’s time, from 1500 to 5000.

A soldier of Tipu Sultan’s army using his rocket as a flagstaff. (Robert Home / Wikimedia Commons)

The presence of the rocket men in the troops is recorded in Tipu Sultan’s military manual—Fathul Mujahidin. Written under Tipu Sultan’s supervision it outlines the strategies to be employed in the war ground. One of the many important aspects covered in the manual is the usage of rockets in military campaigns. According to the manual, each regiment was to have 200 rocket men. They were assigned the task of operating and launching the rockets at an angle calculated from the diameter of the cylinder and the distance of the target.

Indian soldier of Tipu Sultan’s army igniting the rocket with one hand while lifting the head of it with the other. (Robert Home / Wikimedia Commons)

In addition to the rocketeers, wheeled rocket launchers capable of launching five to ten to rockets simultaneously were used also used. 

To further enhance the rocket artillery, Tipu Sultan had set up research facilities—Taramandal Pet at Srirangapatna, Bangalore, Chitraguda and Bidanur. Here, men were trained in calculating the launching angles and distances and experiments were conducted to improve rocket technology.

From Mysore to England

After the defeat and death of Tipu Sultan in the last Anglo-Mysore war of 1799, the British took over his capital at Srirangapatna and seized their armoury. After seizing the armoury, the British studied the rockets and sent many rockets as samples to England. Two of these rockets now displayed in the Royal Museum of Artillery in London.

In England, William Congreve analysed these rockets and employing the techniques of reverse engineering, he studied the details of what made the Mysorean rockets deadly weapons. Studying the recoiling, launching and stability of the rockets, he made a few changes to them and released them as Congreve rockets. These rockets were then used by the British in the Napoleonic wars. 

Rocket finds in Shimoga

In 2018, archaeologists excavated a dry well at Nagara Fort in Shimoga—part of the Kingdom of Mysore, to unearth about 1000 corroded rockets of 23-26 cm in size. Archaeologists believe these belong to the 18th Century and must have been stored there during Tipu Sultan’s rule. On digging up the dry wells, the excavators said, the mud smelled of dry ammunition and gunpowder. Each of the rockets and shells discovered was filled with potassium nitrate, charcoal, and magnesium powder said the State Archaeology Department Assistant Director R. Shejeshwara Nayaka.

While there may be contradictory views and debates on the nature of his rule and kingdom, one cannot deny Tipu Sultan the stature of being the pioneer of rocket artillery.  

Enjoyed this article? Also, check out “Jack Parsons: The Sex Occultist Who Was Key in Sending America to Space“.

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Katas Raj Temples in Katas, Pakistan. (© Mahmood saeed)

Indus valley civilization is one of the ancient civilizations of the world. It extended from present-day northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and northwest India. Indus Valley civilization holds great importance in Hinduism; it was in this period that Hinduism found its footing and was adopted as the religion of the valley during 2300-1300 CE. Many of temples of the ancient age have been excavated at the civilization sites, of which many are present in Pakistan. Although Pakistan was founded as a predominantly Muslim country after partition, the map of the country is dotted with temples of all ages. One of these temples is the Katas Raj Temple, or Qila Katas as it is locally known.

Location

The town of Kallar Kahar in Chakwal district of Punjab province of Pakistan houses one of the holiest sanctuaries of Hinduism in the Indian subcontinent. The Katas Raj temple is a complex of seven or more temples, collectively known as Satgraha.

Ancient temples around Katas. (Teseum / Wikimedia Commons)

According to the first directorate general of Archaeological Survey of India, Alexander Cunningham, the temples are situated along the foothills of the Salt Range extending from the river Jhelum up till the Indus river.

Katas Raj Temples. (© Mahmood saeed)

Mythological importance

Katas Raj temple is highly revered by Hindus world over. It is believed the pond around which the Katas Temple is built is filled by Lord Shiva’s tears. He is believed to have lived here with his wife Sati, and upon her death, grief stricken Shiva couldn’t hold back his tears. These tears then led to the creation of the Katas Raj pond. This water body is thus said to symbolise his inconsolable and unfathomable grief. The name of the pond and the temple is also derived from a word that conveyed his grief, Alexander Cummingham traced back the origin of word Katas to Katasha, a Sanskrit word for “teary eyes”.

Visitors taking a dip in the pond. (Areesha khalid / Wikimedia Commons)

According to another legend, the Pandava brothers found refuge in the caves near the temple after the eldest Pandav Yudhishtra—King of Indraprastha lost his kingdom to their cousin Duryodhana. This incident is mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata and it refers to Katas Raj as the place where the Pandava brothers settled during their 12 years of exile.

The caves are now restored and preserved by the archaeology department of Pakistan for their historical and religious importance.

Owing to these important stories of the faith, Hindus in large number from both the sides of the border congregate every year at different occasions to pay their respects, especially during Maha Shivratri. Although currently there are no idols placed in the temples, the pilgrims come here to commemorate the sacrifices of Pandava brothers and venerate Lord Shiva’s grief. The sacred lake is held in high regards and it is believed a dip/bath in it helps one attain salvation.

Inside Qila Katas. (Zhyusuf / Wikimedia Commons)

“Shiva lingam” in Katas Raj Temples. (Zhyusuf / Wikimedia Commons)

Historical importance

Besides these important temples, there are hundred other temples scattered around the ancient holy city of Katas. This includes Buddhist stupas, havelis and temples built about 900 years ago during the Buddhist rule and Hindu Shahi dynasty. Many of the small medieval temples have been constructed during the rule of Hindu Shahis— Hindu rulers from Afghanistan, that fled from their hometown and set their base here at Katas and ruled from 850-1026 BCE. Most of these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva, and others to Lord Hanuman and Ram.

Within the complex are also remnants of an ancient Gurudwara where Guru Nanak took residence while he travelled across the world in the 19th Century.

Besides being a place of veneration, Katas Raj is also believed to be one of the ancient education centres. Recorded as per history in the 11th Century, Al-Biruni—Persian scholar and mathematician from the court of Mahmud Ghaznavi landed in Katas Raj to study Hinduism. He is believed to be the first Muslim scholar to carry out extensive research on Hindusim. To translate and understand the Hindu scripts he learnt Sanskrit at the linguistic university situated in the complex of the temple. And it was here during his stay that he studied the movements of planets and calculated the circumference of the earth. The Katas Raj temple finds a mention in his book Kitab ul Hind, Book of India.

Architecture of the complex

The construction and architecture of the complex reflects the Kashmiri design of Karkota and Varma dynasties. The temples are built on small square platforms and the cornices are formed where these platforms merge with the elevations of sub shrines situated in the complex.

Kashmiri architectural style Hindu temples in Katas. (Guilhem Vellut / Flickr)

The temple entrances are guarded by large wooden doors and some by open arches. The entrances are decorated with floral motifs atypical of Kashmiri style. And the defining characteristics of the temples here are the dentils, trefoil arches, fluted pillars and pointed roofs which are present in most of the temples that are found all along the Salt Range foothills.

Entrance of one of the temple at Katas. (Guilhem Vellut / Flickr)

Arches inside Qila Katas. (Guilhem Vellut / Flickr)

Conservation of the site

Although the complex was neglected in earlier years, the authorities of Punjab Archaeology Department have undertaken the task to preserve and restore the Katas Raj temple. Renovation of the site began in 2006, post L.K. Advani’s trip to the complex in 2005. And as a gesture of goodwill, Pakistan’s high commissioner Abdul Basit sent him a pitcher of water from the holy pond in 2015.

Some temples in the complex are under renovation while those that are well maintained serve as a destination of pilgrimage for Hindus. Katas Raj Temples is enlisted on the World Heritage Site tentative list of UNESCO.

The Katas Raj is a conglomeration of multi-religious and multi-cultural monuments and shrines, and serves as a reminder and testimony of the syncretic nature of Pakistan.

Enjoyed this article? Also, check out “Padmanabhaswamy Temple: The Richest Temple in the World with Gold Worth $22 Billion in Six Vaults“.

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The Statue of Unity as seen from the bank of Narmada. (Pradeep717 / Wikimedia Commons)

Statue of Unity, built as a tribute to Sardar Vallabhai Patel—the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India—was put up for sale by an unidentified user on OLX.

The statue is located in Gujarat along the banks of river Narmada and is the tallest statue in the world. The cost of construction is approximately 3000 crore rupees. A lot of controversies and protests surrounded the project since it’s initiation in 2013. Funds were raised by the state government, tax money was allocated for building the statue. After years of collecting money and designing, the construction was completed in 2018 and is open to the public since then.

The ad on Olx which since then has been removed.

Amidst, the distressing news of COVID-19, the Statue of Unity gave a reason to be amused. An unidentified person from Gujarat made an advertisement on OLX, an online platform to buy and sell services and goods, to sell the statue. The reason stated for selling was to meet the demands of PPE kits and other equipment by healthcare workers to support them fighting the pandemic. The statue was declared for sale at a whopping cost of 30,000 crores.

Despite being unauthorised to sell government property, the unknown man made the advertisement to mislead people and defame the government, said the chief administrator of the Statue of Unity.

Although the advertisement was removed immediately by the e-portal, a cheating and forgery case has been registered under IPC, Epidemic Diseases Act and Information Technology Act, by the memorial’s authorities.

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Electron microscope image of Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. (NIH Image Gallery / Flickr)

Infections with coronavirus are more common than we know. Now in news for the COVID-19, coronaviruses are associated with the common cold and other respiratory disorders. These viruses with positive-stranded RNA as their genetic material constitute the taxonomic family Coronaviridae. This family includes subfamilies of viruses that infect mammals, birds and fishes. Coronaviruses infect the epithelial lining of the respiratory tract, resulting in respiratory distress.

Warm-blooded birds like bats serve as definitive hosts of the virus. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is one such example wherein bats acted as hosts for the virus SARS-CoV, and COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, is also likely to have been originated in bats.

Other animals that act as hosts and vectors for coronaviruses include cattle, raccoons, swine, horses, camels etc. The virus is then transmitted to humans through cross-species transmission. Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is an example of cross-species transmission of the virus from camels to humans. Coronaviruses thus are classified as zoonotic viruses.

Diseases due to coronaviruses

While birds and animal coronaviruses are responsible for causing epidemical diseases MERS, SARS and the ongoing COVID-19, human coronaviruses—that is viruses that use humans as reservoirs or vectors—are responsible for the common cold and other respiratory diseases, often asymptomatic infections.

Human coronavirus belongs to the genus Alphacoronavirus of subfamily Coronavirinae, Coronaviridae. 30% of mild respiratory tract infections are caused by human coronaviruses. Seasonal outbreaks of Common cold, Influenza-like illness, Croup, Bronchiolitis and Pneumonia are triggered by this family of virus.

Common cold and Influenza-like illness affect the upper respiratory tract and Croup, Bronchiolitis and Pneumonia are infections of the lower respiratory tract.

Symptoms of the infections

These viral infections begin as the virus replicates in the epithelial cells of the nasopharynx, this results in the destruction of epithelial cells lining the tract—ciliated cells and evokes immune responses such as rhinorrhoea (runny nose), pharyngitis, cough, headache and, and mild fever within 2-5 days of infections. These are the symptoms often associated with most of the coronavirus infections.

Illustration of the respiratory epithelium. The highlighted box shows the epithelial lining. (Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014)

Further, different infectious diseases are characterised by similar symptoms. For example, a person infected with SARS complains of dry cough, fever above 100 F, malaise, chills and diarrhoea. 30% of patients are disturbed with severe respiratory disturbance—intestinal pneumonia. COVID-19 is also present with these symptoms. Patients with MERS showcased similar indications.

As stated above Common cold is a syndrome of the upper respiratory tract with symptoms like nasal blockage, runny nose, sneezing, cough and sore throat. Sometimes, headaches and body aches that develop after 1-3 days of infection.

Influenza-like illness is a spectrum of upper respiratory tract infections; fever equal or greater than 100 F, cough and sore throat are uncomplicated indications of infection. Malaise, body aches, loss of appetite and nausea are observed 1-4 days after infection and other respiratory signs and symptoms occur on the 5th-7th day of infection.

Bronchiolitis is a common acute viral lower tract infection, the symptoms include rhinorrhoea, cough, tachypnea(rapid breathing), wheezing and increased respiratory efforts in 3-7 days.

Pneumonia is characterized by its high morbidity and mortality rates in children and adults over the age of 75. It is caused due to either direct inhalation of viral load or contiguous spread of the upper respiratory tract. In the latter case, the symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Common to both are non-respiratory symptoms like fatigue, sweats, headache, nausea and myalgia.

While most of these diseases often affect the adults too, Croup is a childhood disease with distinctive barky cough, inhalation stridor (noisy breathing/wheezing), hoarse voice, respiratory distress with upper airway obstruction at night. As the child grows older, he is often healed off the illness.

Precautions to be observed 

As these diseases mainly affect the airway and lungs, and are contagious, maintaining distance with those affected helps to keep infections at bay as these infections are transmitted through aerosols.

• Disinfection of surfaces and objects is really important to avoid chances of surface transmission of the virus.
• Wash hands regularly and maintain personal hygiene.
• Avoid eating raw and uncooked meat, and contact with live animals.

For more information visit the WHO official website.

References:
-Virus Taxonomy: Ninth Report of Internation Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses
-Viruses: From Understanding to Investigations by Susan Payne
-Elsevier’s Integrated Review Immunology and Microbiology (Second Edition)
-Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases

Enjoyed this article? Also, check out “Coronavirus and Other Deadly Outbreaks of the Past“.

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The post Infections Caused by COVID-19 Causing Virus Family—Coronaviridae appeared first on .

This scanning electron microscope image shows COVID-19 (round blue objects) emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. (NIH Image Gallery / Flickr)

At a global level, all countries are fighting the same monster—COVID-19. COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a coronavirus. WHO has declared it a pandemic due to its reckless spread and increased fatality with no cure in sight. The first outbreak was reported in Wuhan City of China in 2019, and since then there have been more than 249,110 confirmed cases over the world. With the highest death toll surge in Italy, Europe has been confirmed as the epicentre of COVID-19.

COVID-19 and its effects

WHO classifies coronaviruses as zoonotic viruses i.e., they are transmitted to humans via infected animals. And further person-person transmission is through air droplets, hence close contact with infected people/carriers is to be avoided.

In its initial stages, it remains asymptomatic for at least 12-14 days. Following the incubation period it affects the respiratory system, starts with flu and when left untreated or in adverse cases causes pneumonia, kidney failure and death. Immunocompromised people i.e., those with a history of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, pulmonary diseases etc. are at a higher risk along with pregnant women and those above the age of 50.

Tackling the virus

As this is a new viral strain—SARS-CoV-2 and has never been seen before in animals or humans, antiviral drugs are impotent to fight and control the spread. Thus to tackle this deadly disease, the current strategy being used is “prevention is better than cure”.

Ukraine evacuating Ukrainianfrom Wuhan, China. (State Border Guard Service of Ukraine)

Countries have been put on lockdown by the governments, international flights stopped and people suspected to be infected are isolated and others are quarantined for an indefinite future, to contain the disease.

But this is not the first time that the human race has found itself at the centre of a quandary. Every few years, we face this situation; the outbreak of an infectious disease.

What is the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?

Infectious disease when crosses the baseline number in a community with an increased number of cases and death rates, it is termed as an epidemic. And when an epidemic crosses international borders and infects people in different countries, thereby increasing the mortality rate—it is considered a pandemic. Pandemics are usually caused by novel bacteria or virus that spread rapidly.

In the earlier months of the outbreak, coronavirus was seen as an epidemic in China but with a steep incline in the number of cases in different parts of the world, it has been classified as a pandemic.

Pandemics over the last hundred years

Emergency hospital during the Spanish Flu pandemic, Camp Funston, Kansas. (National Museum of Health and Medicine)

Name: Spanish Flu
Year: 1918-1920
Location: Worldwide
Deaths recorded: 50-100 million
Treatment: Containment
Spanish Flu of 1918-1920, popularly known as the plague of 1918, is the deadliest pandemic in history, killing about 1-3% of the world’s population. In India alone, it resulted in 20 million deaths. The plague was first observed in Europe (according to some sources in Spain and hence the name), America and parts of Asia after World War I, before it spread in the world.

It was caused by the H1N1 influenza virus. And like coronaviruses, influenza viruses also affected the respiratory system and had symptoms typical of flu. This only ceased to affect once those infected were either dead or had developed an immunity towards the virus.

Name: Asian Flu
Year: 1956
Location: East Asia, United Kingdom and the United States
Deaths recorded: 2 million
Treatment: Asian Influenza Vaccine
Another strain of influenza virus that created havoc in the 90s, was the H2N2 subtype that resulted in Asian Flu in 1956. The first outbreak was reported in China and spread through Singapore, Hong Kong to the United States in a span of two-three years. According to WHO the death toll due to the Asian Flu was around 2 million, of which the USA was majorly affected with 69,800 deaths. The Asian Flu was followed by the Hong Kong Flu in 1968, caused by the influenza virus of the H3N2 strain. This influenza resulted in approximately a million deaths worldwide.

Name: 7th Cholera Pandemic
Year: 1961-present
Location: Worldwide
Deaths recorded: 21,000 -143 000 deaths/year
Treatment: Oral Rehydration Solution, antibiotics and oral vaccines
The seventh cholera pandemic started in 1961 in Indonesia, and spread across Asia and subsequently to the rest of the world. Cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae, has haunted the world since the mid-19th century continues to pose a threat to developing countries even today. The seventh cholera pandemic is caused by a new strain of the bacterium—El Tor. Although the mortality rate has decreased over the years, epidemic outbreaks often reoccur every few years.

Name: HIV/AIDS
Year: 1976-present
Location: Worldwide
Deaths recorded: 36 million
Treatment: Antiretroviral therapy
HIV/AIDS originating in Congo in 1976 is one of the many pandemics the world has tackled. AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is caused by viruses known as Human-Immunodeficiency Virus belonging to the family of retroviruses. It is transmitted via sexual intimacy, blood transmissions and by sharing syringes/drug injections with an infected person. The global death toll of this infectious disease is 36 million. Although, with advanced treatments and vaccinations, infectious surge and death rate has declined over the years but HIV/AIDS continues to be a looming threat and is still considered a pandemic by the WHO.

U.S. President Gerald Ford receives a swine flu vaccination during the 1976 U.S. outbreak. (Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library: B1874-07A)

Name: Swine Flu
Year: 2009
Location: Worldwide
Deaths recorded: 151,700-575,400
Treatment: Antiviral drugs
In 2009, a new strain of H1N1 influenza virus—Swine Flu virus, caught the world off guard. The first case was reported in April 2009 in the United States. It spread quickly over the world and was declared as a pandemic by WHO in June 2009. This strain primarily affected children and adults who had no immunity to previous influenza viruses and those with pulmonary issues. The total estimation of the deaths caused by Swine Flu varies from 151,700 to 575,400.

In August 2010, WHO declared the end of the pandemic. Although, the seasonal occurrence of Swine Flu is prevalent in certain parts of the world, including India. In 2015, approximately 2000 people died due to Swine Flu in India and a few cases of the flu have been reported in the country in the past few months.

Epidemics of the century

Sporadic occurrence of epidemics has perturbed the mankind for a long time. They take place when the disease-causing infectious agents and susceptible hosts are present in a limited number but above the baseline in a region. Epidemics can be triggered by both natural and man-made factors. With proper steps and measures taken on time, these can often be controlled and further cases can be prevented.

Few of the perilous epidemics in the past hundred years have been discussed below.

Name: Manchurian Plague
Year: 1910
Location: China
Deaths recorded: 600,000
Treatment: Containment
In 1910, China witnessed an unprecedented outbreak of pneumonic plague—Manchurian Plague, in its northeastern part. Manchuria plague was alleged to be transmitted from marmots to humans and later evolved to human-human transmission. To curtail the spreading of the plague, quarantine and isolation techniques were applied. The plague spread sporadically over the neighbouring regions and caused around 600,000 deaths in a matter of a few months. The mortality rate of the plague was 100%.

Smallpox lesions. (George Henry Fox)

Name: Smallpox
Year: 1974
Location: India
Deaths recorded: 20,000
Treatment: Antiviral drugs and vaccination
WHO was nearing the final stages of eradication of smallpox in 1974 when an epidemic in Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal was recorded. With 1 in 4 cases resulting in death, this had proven fatal to the developing healthcare system of India. More than 30,000 cases were reported in the first five weeks of the outbreak. And approximately 100,000 cases were verified during the Indian smallpox epidemic, with 20,000 deaths. After a year of vigorous steps taken to eradicate smallpox, India was declared smallpox free in 1975.

Name: Ebola
Year: 1976-present
Location: South Sudan and Congo
Deaths recorded: 1590 deaths between 1976-2013
Treatment: Vaccines
In the following year of 1976, one of the deadliest viral diseases was discovered—Ebola virus disease (EVD) or commonly known as Ebola. Two consecutive outbreaks were documented in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The fruit bats act as hosts for the virus and from them, they are transmitted to the human population through direct contact. EVD affects kidneys and liver and proves to be fatal if left untreated.

Since 1976, small outbreaks have been reported in the African continent with the epidemic of 2014-2016 being the most fatal one with more than 11,300 cases globally. It began in Guinea and within weeks crossed the borders and was classified as a global epidemic in a short span of time. The current outbreak in Uganda and Congo has a death toll of 2,253.

Name: SARS
Year: 2003
Location: Asia
Deaths recorded: 800
Treatment: There’s no confirmed treatment as of now, antiviral drugs and steroids are used to subdue the effects.
The first case of coronavirus disease was identified as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). It is a viral respiratory illness triggered by a virus called SARS associated coronavirus—SARS-CoV derived from bats. It was first identified in Asia in 2003, although the first case of human infection was reported in 2002. SARS spread across 26 countries in one year leaving 800 dead and thousands ill throughout the world. Since then, no cases have been reported.

Name: MERS
Year: 2012
Location: Arabian Peninsula
Deaths recorded: 858 since 2012
Treatment: No specific antiviral treatment has been discovered yet
Another infectious disease caused by the coronavirus is the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome(MERS). This strain of the virus was identified as MERS-CoV and is also known to be derived from bats like its predecessor. Camels acted as a vector for the viral transmission to humans; hence the infection is also called camel flu. The initial occurrence was in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and have been reported in 27 countries since then. The majority of the cases belong to the Arabian Peninsula. Other similar outbreaks in other parts of the world have been reported but the severity has been very low.

What does the future hold?

Although as many as necessary steps are being taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus, it will only flatten the curve and slow the spread. It does not necessarily stop the infection from spreading. Keeping this and the death toll in mind, pharmaceutical companies are in a rush to produce a vaccine. China has shared the viral genome sequence with the rest of the world to ease the production process.
Clinical trials on animals as well as human are being carried out simultaneously to fasten the process and put a stop to the death count.
Getting a vaccine ready is one of the many hurdles crossed. Once the vaccine is produced, the next hurdle will be the large-scale production and distribution across the world.

The route for vaccine production is dreadfully long, until then doctors and researchers hope containment strategies will aid in limiting the chain transmission of the virus.

How is India fighting the pandemic?

India has around 415 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of 23rd March 2020. To prevent further spread, India has ramped up its efforts. Airports and seaports are facilitated with stringent screening protocols.

The Government of India has banned passengers from 36 countries and has mandatorily quarantined passengers coming from 11 countries.

State governments have taken strict decisions to lockdown the cities and issued notices to shut down educational institutions.

In the upcoming weeks, there’s an underlying threat of the disease reaching its peak. And the only way to halt community transmission is isolation and quarantine.

Adhere to the guidelines issued by the concerned authorities. Protect yourself and others around you by practising social distancing. Follow proper hygienic measures, wash your hands regularly with an alcohol-based sanitizer or a soap. Do not touch your face as eyes, nose and mouth act as entry routes for the virus. Seek medical care if you experience any kind of respiratory discomfort.

 Enjoyed this article? Also, check out “The Black Death: When Tens of Millions of Europe’s Population Was Killed by the Bubonic Plague“.

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