The Hindu Editorial (Of hope and vigilance) – May 09, 2023

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The Hindu Editorial (Of hope and vigilance) – May 09, 2023:

vigilance (noun) – careful observation, surveillance, alertness/carefulness.
pandemic (noun) – the worldwide spread of a new disease; The illness spreads around the world and typically affects a large number of people across a wide area.
World Health Organization (WHO) (noun) – Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health.
confer (verb) – give, present, grant.
certitude (noun) – certainty, assurance, confidence, sureness, conviction.
epidemic (noun) – the widespread spread of an infectious disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of time.
wane (verb) – decline, decrease, diminish, dwindle gradually.
die down (phrasal verb) – (in a gradual way) to become less active; to become less powerful/strong.
outbreak (noun) – sudden appearance/occurrence. outburst, flare-up, eruption, epidemic.
be no exception (phrase) – be the same as all others.
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) (noun) – A PHEIC is defined in the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) as, “an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response”.
read down (phrasal verb) – to declare (a law/statute) as illegal or unconstitutional; to rule that a law is no longer valid.
invoke (verb) – evoke, cause, bring forth, bring out/bring on, induce.
rider (noun) – condition, requirement, provision, restriction.
lead up to (phrasal verb) – come before, precede, predate, go before (before an event).
lay the groundwork/foundation for (phrase) – prepare the way for, pave the way for, open the way for, set the scene for.
influenza (noun) – it is commonly known as “the flu”, is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus.
fatigue (noun) – tiredness, weariness, exhaustion.
exhaustively (adverb) – extensively, widely, thoroughly, broadly.
on guard (phrase) – alert, awake, watchful, vigilant.
breathe/heave a sigh of relief (phrase) – to suddenly feel relieved (or feel happy) that something unpleasant has not happened (sigh is a long & deep audible breathing out of relief).
slip into (verb) – get into, change into (a bad state or situation gradually).
torpor (noun) – lethargy, sluggishness, inactivity, inaction, slowness, dullness, apathy, passivity.
complacence/complacency (noun) – carelessness, laziness, laxity; self-satisfaction, smugness, self-regard.
variant (noun) – different or form or version or mutant of something (virus).
read (verb) – understand, interpret, make out.
lead to (verb) – result in, cause, bring about, give rise to.
mortality (noun) – (in a particular time/for a cause) the rate/number of death.
eternal (adjective) – everlasting, never-ending, enduring, permanent.
periodically (adverb) – continually, frequently, continuously, recurrently, from time to time.
Indian SARS-CoV2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG) (noun) – INSACOG refers to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequencing Consortia. The INSACOG consortium of scientists, spanning 10 labs across the country, and involved in sequencing genomes of coronavirus samples in different States, had been giving regular updates on the threat from new strains to the government. (Consortia is a plural form of consortium).
genome (noun) – the genetic material (a complete set of DNA, including all of its genes) of an organism. The sum total of the genetic material of a cell or an organism.
sequence (noun) – the complete order of compounds/building blocks (nucleotides) of nucleic acids, such as RNA or DNA.
genome sequence (noun) – a process that determines the order, or sequence, of the DNA (nucleotides i.e., A, C, G and U) in each of the genes present in the virus’s genome.
infrastructure (noun) – the basic physical or organisational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc.
take the foot off the pedal (phrase) – relax, slack off, make less effort, become less active.
vaccine (noun) – a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease.
antibiotic (noun) – a chemical substance/drug used to destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria that causes infectious diseases.
hygiene (noun) – cleanliness.
adhere to (verb) – abide by, stick to, hold to, comply with, act in accordance with, conform to.
vaccination (noun) – treatment with a vaccine to protect against a particular disease; immunization.
circumstance (noun) – condition, context, situation, background.