The Hindu Editorial (Watch, but do not wait) – May 20, 2026
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The Hindu Editorial (Watch, but do not wait) – May 20, 2026:
- watch, but do not wait (phrase) – keep a close eye on the situation, but take immediate preventive action without delaying.
- watch (verb) – keep an eye on, monitor, observe, track.
- Ebola (noun) – Ebola virus disease (EVD), a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans; a highly contagious viral disease.
- outbreak (noun) – sudden occurrence of a disease, sudden appearance; upsurge, flare-up, eruption, epidemic, outburst, breakout.
- alacrity (noun) – eagerness, readiness, promptness, willingness; enthusiasm, briskness, swiftness.
- World Health Organization (WHO) (noun) – a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
- Public Health Emergency of International Concern (noun) – A formal declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 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.
- advice (noun) – guidance, recommendation, suggestion, counsel.
- emergency committee (noun) – a formally constituted group of experts organized by WHO to advise on declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
- expert (noun) – specialist, authority, professional.
- panellist (noun) – member of a panel, participant, speaker.
- as is (phrase) – exactly as it is, typically, in the present state.
- convention (noun) – norm, practice, custom, tradition, standard.
- nevertheless (adverb) – in spite of that, however, nonetheless, yet.
- fete (verb) – celebrate, glorify, exalt, acclaim, admire, commend, praise.
- swift (adjective) – quick, rapid, fast, speedy, prompt.
- given (preposition) – considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.
- unknowns (noun) – uncertain things, mysterious things, unresolved issues, variables.
- arise from (phrasal verb) – originate from, result from, stem from, proceed from.
- current (adjective) – present, ongoing, existing, prevailing.
- strain (noun) – variant, mutant, form, subtype (of a virus).
- uncommon (adjective) – rare, unusual, atypical, infrequent.
- Bundibugyo (noun) – A specific rare strain of the Ebola virus, originally identified in the Bundibugyo District of Uganda.
- in the past (phrase) – previously, formerly, historically.
- efficacy (noun) – effectiveness, success, potency, usefulness.
- effective (adjective) – successful, productive, efficacious, fruitful.
- countermeasure (noun) – preventive measure, action taken to offset another, defensive step, safeguard.
- such as (phrase) – for example, like, for instance.
- vaccine (noun) – biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease; immunization, inoculation.
- Zaire strain (noun) – The most deadly and commonly identified strain of the Ebola virus, originating from Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo).
- therapy (noun) – treatment, remedy, cure, healing method.
- untested (adjective) – unproven, untried, experimental, unverified.
- cross-border (adjective) – happening or involving people, resources, or activities moving across the border between two countries; international, trans-border.
- concern (noun) – anxiety, worry, apprehension, fear.
- ongoing (adjective) – continuous, in progress, continuing, uninterrupted.
- conflict (noun) – dispute, fight, war, battle.
- displacement (noun) – the enforced departure of people from their homes, typically because of war, persecution, or natural disaster; dislocation.
- undetected (adjective) – unnoticed, unseen, undiscovered, hidden.
- lead to (phrasal verb) – result in, cause, bring about, give rise to.
- impair (verb) – hinder, damage, hamper, weaken, undermine.
- access to care (phrase) – the ability to obtain medical treatment, healthcare availability.
- as on (phrase) – as of, at the date of, effective from.
- suspected (adjective) – believed to exist, doubtful, unconfirmed, potential.
- province (noun) – region, state, territory, district.
- apparent (adjective) – obvious, clear, evident, visible.
- clutch (noun) – a group, a small number, handful, collection.
- trend (noun) – tendency, pattern, direction, movement.
- syndromic (adjective) – symptom-based, clinical-pattern, relating to a syndrome.
- cluster (noun) – group, batch, collection, gathering.
- point towards (phrasal verb) – indicate, suggest, signify, hint at.
- potentially (adverb) – possibly, probably, conceivably, likely.
- at any rate (phrase) – whatever happens, in any case, anyway, regardless.
- risk-averse (adjective) – relating to someone who does not want to take risks; cautious, conservative, careful.
- condition (noun) – disease, illness, ailment, medical problem.
- fatality rate (noun) – the ratio of deaths to the total number of people diagnosed with a disease; death rate, mortality rate.
- mortality rate (noun) – death rate, fatality rate, number of deaths.
- viral strain (noun) – genetic variant of a virus, subtype, mutation.
- access (noun) – approach, entry, the right to obtain, availability.
- medical care (noun) – healthcare, medical treatment, clinical support.
- arise out (phrasal verb) – result from, stem from, issue from, proceed from.
- contagious (adjective) – infectious, communicable, transmittable, spreadable.
- exposure (noun) – subjecting to a risk/virus, vulnerability, contact.
- body fluids (noun) – biological fluids like blood, saliva, sweat, etc.; biological liquids.
- contaminated (adjective) – polluted, infected, tainted, corrupted.
- vicious (adjective) – brutal, dangerous, deadly, ferocious, severe.
- horrific (adjective) – dreadful, terrifying, appalling, horrendous.
- sweep across (phrasal verb) – spread quickly, engulf, overwhelm, cover.
- alert (noun) – warning, notification, alarm, signal.
- solicit (verb) – ask for, request, seek, appeal for.
- unfailingly (adverb) – always, without fail, consistently, reliably.
- contact tracing (noun) – it is defined as the identification and followup of persons who may have come into contact with a person infected with the virus.
- dignified (adjective) – respectful, solemn, honorable, proper.
- burial (noun) – funeral, entombment, interment, laying to rest.
- vaccination (noun) – inoculation, immunization, preventive shot.
- social mobilisation (noun) – a process of bringing together all societal and personal influences to raise awareness and facilitate behavioral change to prevent disease transmission.
- the public (noun) – people, citizens, general population, community.
Note:
1. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are our personal work. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context.
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With unusual alacrity, WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern over the Ebola outbreak in central Africa, not even waiting for the advice of an emergency committee of expert panellists, as is convention… For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-2 for The Hindu Editorial (Watch, but do not wait) – May 20, 2026.