UPSC Prelims 2006 Q41: Science & Technology – Health & Diseases
Consider the following statements:
1. Meningococcal Meningitis is transmitted from person to person by mosquito bites.
2. Vomiting and neck pain are two of the symptoms of Meningococcal meningitis.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
Meningococcal meningitis
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Transmitted from person to person by mosquito bites | False | It spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact, not mosquitoes |
| 2. Vomiting and neck pain are symptoms | True | Symptoms include fever, severe headache, vomiting and stiff neck |
Only statement 2 is correct.
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false; meningococcal meningitis is not spread by mosquito bites.
- (b) CORRECT. Vomiting and neck stiffness or pain are symptoms of meningococcal meningitis.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false, so both cannot be correct.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 2 is true, so it is not 'neither'.
Key point
Meningococcal meningitis spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact, not mosquito bites, and its symptoms include vomiting and neck stiffness.
Remember
Meningococcal meningitis is not mosquito-borne.
Common mistakes
- Treating it as a vector-borne disease like malaria.
- Not knowing it is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.
- Forgetting stiff neck as the classic sign.
Exam tip
Meningitis: droplets and close contact; malaria and dengue: mosquitoes.
Sources
- World Health Organization — meningococcal disease
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Meningococcal Disease: Symptoms and Transmission