International Health Practice Questions

Q: The primary function of NIH (National Institutes of Health) is

Medical research. ***Medical research*** - The **National Institutes of Health (NIH)** is the primary biomedical research agency of the United States, comprising 27 institutes and centers - Its stated mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about living systems and apply that knowledge to **enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability** - The NIH conducts and funds **medical research** across virtually all areas of medicine and public health, making this its core primary function - It is the world's largest public funder of biomedical research, with a budget primarily dedicated to research grants and intramural research programs *Disease surveillance* - Disease surveillance is primarily the responsibility of the **CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)**, not the NIH - While NIH research may inform surveillance strategies, **monitoring and tracking disease patterns** is not the NIH's primary organizational function - The NIH focuses on understanding disease mechanisms and developing interventions through research *Public health policy* - The NIH provides **evidence-based research** that informs public health policy but does not primarily create or enforce policy - Policy-making authority rests with the **Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)** and other regulatory agencies like the FDA - The NIH's role is to generate the scientific knowledge base that guides policy decisions *Clinical trials* - The NIH conducts and funds extensive **clinical trials** through its Clinical Center and grant mechanisms - However, clinical trials are a **methodology of medical research**, not a separate primary function - Clinical trials serve the broader mission of medical research by testing hypotheses and interventions developed through basic and translational research

Q: Under the original International Health Regulations, the internationally quarantinable diseases were -

All of the above. ***All of the above*** - **Cholera**, **plague**, and **yellow fever** were the three diseases designated as internationally quarantinable under the **original International Health Regulations (IHR)** before the 2005 revision. - These diseases were selected due to their potential for rapid international spread and serious public health impact, requiring coordinated global surveillance and response. - **Note:** The IHR (2005), which came into force in 2007, replaced this fixed list with a framework for assessing **Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC)** using a decision algorithm. *Cholera* - **Cholera** is an acute diarrheal illness caused by *Vibrio cholerae* that can cause severe dehydration and death if untreated, with high potential for **epidemic spread**, particularly in areas with poor sanitation. - It was designated as quarantinable due to its rapid transmission via contaminated water and food. *Plague* - **Plague**, caused by the bacterium *Yersinia pestis*, has historically caused devastating pandemics and remains a concern due to its high fatality rate and potential for spread through **vector transmission** (fleas) or **person-to-person transmission via pneumonic plague**. - Its inclusion reflected its capacity to cause widespread morbidity and mortality. *Yellow fever* - **Yellow fever** is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by *Aedes* mosquitoes, posing risk in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South America. - Its quarantinable status stemmed from its potential for rapid spread into non-endemic areas by infected travelers and the presence of **competent mosquito vectors globally**.

Q: Not under millennium development goals?

Reduction of cardiovascular health hazards. ***Reduction of cardiovascular health hazards*** - The **Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)** focused on broader health issues like poverty, hunger, maternal and child health, and infectious diseases, rather than specific non-communicable diseases. - While improving health was a core tenet, specific targets for reducing **cardiovascular disease** burdens were not explicitly listed as one of the eight MDGs. *Eradication of extreme poverty* - This was the **first and overarching goal** of the MDGs, aiming to halve the proportion of people living on less than $1.25 a day by 2015. - It included targets related to **employment** and **hunger reduction**. *Global partnership for development* - This was the **eighth and final goal** of the MDGs, emphasizing international cooperation to achieve the other goals. - It focused on issues such as **aid, debt relief**, and **access to technology**. *Sustainability of the environment* - This was one of the **seven major MDGs (Goal 7)**, aiming to integrate principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs. - It included targets related to **reducing biodiversity loss** and increasing access to safe drinking water.

Q: In Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), how many goals are health related?

3 out of 8. ***3 out of 8*** - The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) included **three health-related goals** (Goals 4, 5, and 6) out of a total of eight global development goals. - These health goals focused on **reducing child mortality**, **improving maternal health**, and **combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases**. *1 out of 8* - This option is incorrect because more than one MDG explicitly addressed health concerns, demonstrating the significant role of health in global development. - Limiting health-related goals to just one would underestimate the comprehensive approach taken by the MDGs towards global health. *2 out of 8* - While two health goals (Goals 4 and 5) focused on child and maternal health, this option overlooks the third dedicated health goal (Goal 6) on combating major diseases. - The MDGs placed a strong emphasis on a broader range of health issues, making this count insufficient. *4 out of 8* - This option overstates the number of direct health-related goals within the MDG framework, as only three goals were explicitly and primarily focused on health. - While other goals might indirectly impact health, only three were specifically defined as health goals.

Q: For yellow fever control, the distance around an airport to be kept free of Aedes breeding is

400m. ***400m*** - The **International Health Regulations (IHR)** mandate that an area within **400 meters** of an airport in a yellow fever endemic zone must be kept free of *Aedes* breeding sites. - This distance is based on the flight range of the mosquito vector, *Aedes aegypti*, which is approximately **400 meters**. *450m* - This distance is **greater than the recommended** safe zone for *Aedes* breeding site control around airports. - While it would increase safety, it is **not the officially specified** requirement by international health organizations. *250m* - This distance is **insufficient** to ensure an adequate buffer zone against the spread of *Aedes* mosquitoes from breeding sites to aircraft or personnel. - The typical flight range of *Aedes aegypti* extends beyond **250 meters**, making this option unsafe. *200m* - A **200-meter radius** is significantly **too small** to effectively prevent the transmission of yellow fever via *Aedes* mosquitoes around airports. - This limited range would leave a large portion of the mosquito's flight range uncovered, posing a high risk.

Q: CARE International is primarily associated with -

Emergency relief and poverty alleviation. ***Emergency relief and poverty alleviation*** - **CARE International** is a major international humanitarian organization founded in 1945, primarily focused on **fighting global poverty** with special attention to **emergency relief**, **food security**, and **working with women and girls**. - CARE operates in over 100 countries providing disaster response, economic development programs, health services, education, and advocacy for the world's poorest communities. - The name originally stood for "Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe" and later became "Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere." *CRY* - **CRY (Child Rights and You)** is an **Indian NGO** founded in 1979, focused specifically on child rights and welfare in India. - This is a completely separate organization from CARE International, though both work in development sectors. *ICDS* - The **Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)** is a **government-sponsored program in India**. - ICDS focuses on providing **food, preschool education, primary healthcare, immunization, health check-up, and referral services** to children under 6 years of age and their mothers. *RCH scheme* - The **Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) scheme** is a **government initiative in India**. - It aims to reduce **infant and maternal mortality** by providing comprehensive reproductive and child health services.

Q: The WHO was set up in –

1948. ***1948*** - The **World Health Organization (WHO)** was officially established on **April 7, 1948**, as a specialized agency of the United Nations. - This date is now celebrated annually as **World Health Day**. *1929* - This year does not correspond to the establishment of the **WHO**. - No major international health organization was founded in this specific year. *1946* - While the **constitution of the WHO** was adopted in New York in July **1946**, the organization itself was not formally set up or came into force until 1948. - The adoption of the constitution was a preparatory step towards its establishment. *1952* - This year is significantly later than the actual establishment date of the **WHO**. - By 1952, the WHO was already fully operational and engaged in its global health initiatives.

Q: Which disease comes under International Surveillance?

Typhoid fever. ***Typhoid fever*** - **Typhoid fever** is monitored by the **World Health Organization (WHO)** through global surveillance systems to track incidence, guide vaccination strategies, and implement control measures. - While **not on the mandatory notification list** under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, typhoid is included in **WHO's global disease surveillance** programs due to its significant disease burden in endemic regions. - Among the given options, typhoid fever has the **strongest international surveillance framework** through WHO's Global Foodborne Infections Network and regional surveillance systems. - **Note:** Diseases under **mandatory IHR surveillance** include cholera, plague, yellow fever, smallpox, poliomyelitis, SARS, and novel influenza subtypes. *Chikungunya fever* - Chikungunya is primarily monitored through **national and regional surveillance** systems rather than comprehensive international surveillance frameworks. - WHO tracks outbreaks through epidemic intelligence but it is **not part of mandatory IHR notification**. - Surveillance focuses on **vector control** and outbreak detection at local levels. *Hepatitis B* - **Hepatitis B** surveillance is conducted primarily at **national levels** through prevalence studies, vaccination coverage monitoring, and chronic infection programs. - It is **not under mandatory international surveillance** per IHR, though WHO maintains global estimates and monitoring frameworks. - Focus is on **prevention through vaccination** and treatment of chronic infections. *Salmonellosis* - Non-typhoidal **salmonellosis** is monitored mainly through **national food safety** and public health surveillance systems. - **Not designated for mandatory international surveillance** under IHR 2005. - International coordination occurs through networks like WHO's Global Foodborne Infections Network for outbreak investigation.

Q: Emporiatrics deals with the health of the following group of people:

Travellers. ***Travellers*** - Emporiatrics is a medical subspecialty focused on the health issues, prevention, and management of diseases encountered by **travellers**. - This field addresses risks like **traveler's diarrhea**, malaria, yellow fever, and other infections or health concerns related to specific destinations. *Industrial workers* - The health of industrial workers falls under **occupational medicine** or **industrial hygiene**. - This field deals with workplace hazards, occupational diseases, and maintaining the health and safety of employees in industrial settings. *Mine workers* - The health concerns of mine workers are a specialized subset of **occupational medicine**, often referred to as **mining medicine**. - This area focuses on diseases like silicosis, pneumoconiosis, and injuries common in mining environments. *Farmers* - The health of farmers is addressed within **agricultural medicine** or **rural health**. - This specialty focuses on specific health risks associated with farming, such as pesticide exposure, zoonotic diseases, and musculoskeletal injuries.

Question 1

The primary function of NIH (National Institutes of Health) is

Accepted Answer

Medical research

Answer

Public health policy

Answer

Clinical trials

Answer

Disease surveillance

Question 2

Under the original International Health Regulations, the internationally quarantinable diseases were -

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Answer

Cholera

Answer

Plague

Answer

Yellow fever

Question 3

Not under millennium development goals?

Accepted Answer

Reduction of cardiovascular health hazards

Answer

Eradication of extreme poverty

Answer

Global partnership for development

Answer

Sustainability of the environment

Question 4

In Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), how many goals are health related?

Accepted Answer

3 out of 8

Answer

1 out of 8

Answer

2 out of 8

Answer

4 out of 8

Question 5

For yellow fever control, the distance around an airport to be kept free of Aedes breeding is

Accepted Answer

400m

Answer

450m

Answer

250m

Answer

200m

Question 6

CARE International is primarily associated with -

Accepted Answer

Emergency relief and poverty alleviation

Answer

ICDS

Answer

RCH scheme

Answer

Ford Foundation

Question 7

The WHO was set up in –

Accepted Answer

1948

Answer

1929

Answer

1946

Answer

1952

Question 8

WHO International Health Regulations (2005) are legally binding on all WHO member states and primarily aim to -

Accepted Answer

Prevent, protect against, control and provide public health response to international spread of disease

Answer

Development of children

Answer

Research and technological development of the country

Answer

Development of human & natural resources in a country

Question 9

Which disease comes under International Surveillance?

Accepted Answer

Typhoid fever

Answer

Chikungunya fever

Answer

Hepatitis B

Answer

Salmonellosis

Question 10

Emporiatrics deals with the health of the following group of people:

Accepted Answer

Travellers

Answer

Industrial workers

Answer

Mine workers

Answer

Farmers

International Health — MCQs

International Health — MCQs

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