UPSC Prelims 2014 · Question 72 of 100

UPSC Prelims 2014 question on Disease Eradication India

Consider the following diseases:

1. Diphtheria
2. Chickenpox
3. Smallpox

Which of the above diseases has/have been eradicated in India?

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 3 only
  3. 1, 2 and 3
  4. None
Show answer

Answer: B. 3 only

Verdict

The answer is 3 only. Smallpox is the only one of the three that has been eradicated; diphtheria and chickenpox still occur.

Analysis

Statement 3 is CORRECT. Smallpox was eradicated globally, with the last natural case in 1977 and certification of eradication by the World Health Organization in 1980. Statement 1 is INCORRECT. Diphtheria is vaccine preventable and greatly reduced, but outbreaks still occur in India, so it is controlled and not eradicated. Statement 2 is INCORRECT. Chickenpox remains common and there is no eradication programme for it.

Source

The Hindu commentary on disease eradication.

How to crack it

Keep the public health vocabulary strictly separate, because it is the vocabulary that is tested. Eradication means permanent worldwide reduction to zero with no further intervention needed, elimination means zero in a defined geography with continued measures, and control means reduction to an acceptable level. Only smallpox and rinderpest have been eradicated globally. Once that hard fact is fixed, any option adding a second disease to smallpox is wrong on definition alone.

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