Read the following passage and answer the question.

Influenza is caused by a virus that attacks mainly the upper respiratory tract-the nose, throat and bronchi and rarely also the lungs. The genetic make up of Influenza virus allows for both major and minor genetic changes. making them immune to existing vaccines. Three times in the last century, the Influenza virus have undergone major genetic changes, resulting in global Pandemics and large tolls in terms of both disease and deaths. The most infamous pandemic was "Spanish Flu" which affected large parts of the world population and is thought to have killed at least 40 million people in 1918-19. More recently, two other Influenza pandemics occurred in 1957 (Asian Influenza) and 1968 (Hong Kong Influenza).

The measures to control epidemics can be:

Mass Vaccination Programme

The correct answer is Option 1: Mass Vaccination Programme

The passage discusses Influenza as a viral disease that can lead to epidemics and pandemics due to its ability to undergo genetic changes, making existing vaccines ineffective over time. In such cases, mass vaccination programmes are the most effective public health response to:

• Prevent the spread of infection

• Build herd immunity

• Reduce the number of severe cases and deaths

Why not the other options?

• Control poverty – Important for overall health but not a direct epidemic control measure.

• Control Total Fertility Rate – Related to population policy, not infectious disease control.

• Taking help from MNREGA – MNREGA is an employment guarantee scheme, not a health intervention tool