BY SYED AKRAM HUSSAIN

World Zoonosis Day’ is noticed yearly on 6^th July to honour the success of French scientist Louis Pasteur, who administered the primary vaccine towards zoonotic illness (rabies) administered to little boy Joseph Meister who was bitten by a rabid canine.

The goal of today is to lift consciousness amongst folks and to extend understanding of zoonotic and rising illness dangers in addition to to encourage collaboration amongst medical, public well being professionals, veterinarians, environmentalist, ecologists, authorities officers and different stakeholders underneath one umbrella.

It additionally promotes the idea of ‘One Health’ which acknowledges the inter-connectedness of human, animal and environmental well being. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the method is essential to the administration of shared threats for future outbreaks and pandemics on the human-animal-environment interface.

As with the world’s second largest human inhabitants, diversified biodiversity and biggest densities of tropical livestock, India possesses beneficial surroundings for transmission of zoonotic illness.

 ‘Zoonoses’ are any illness or an infection which might be naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals to human and vice -versa. As per World Health group, there are over 200 recognized forms of zoonoses, which comprise a big share of recent and present ailments in people. Some zoonoses akin to rabies are 100% preventable via vaccination and different preventive measures.

It can also be estimated that, globally zoonoses account for greater than 60% of all infectious illness and 75% of rising pathogens. In India, main zoonotic ailments of public well being significance embrace rabies, brucellosis, influenza, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, cysticercosis, echinococcosis, Japanese encephalitis, plague, leptospirosis and Kyasanur forest illness.

In current years new rising illness akin to avian influenza, H1N1, Nipah virus an infection, CCHF, trypanosomiasis and corona virus has harassed the significance of making consciousness about zoonosis.

 This day may be celebrated via totally different actions akin to organizing consciousness programme, workshops, academic campaigns, conferences, assembly with totally different stakeholders, printing and digital media and so forth. to take motion to forestall and management zoonotic ailments.

The primary rules of zoonoses prevention, management and eradication entails reservoir neutralization, decreasing contact potential and growing host resistance.

This aim may be achieved via interdisciplinary community of companions to enhance surveillance and monitoring of zoonotic ailments. Awareness in regards to the ailments amongst farmers, livestock homeowners, veterinarians, para-vets, para medical employees in addition to environmentalists ought to be elevated and performed usually.

The “one health” method bringing veterinarians, health-care suppliers, and different sectors is urgently requires for profitable implementation methods for controlling essential rising and re-emerging zoonotic ailments.

Division of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir is giving well being training and diagnostic service within the fields of public well being since its institution in addition to instructing and analysis as prime mandate.  The division is organizing a day lengthy programme on 6^th July 2023 to rejoice ‘World Zoonoses Day’ underneath theme on “One World, One Health: Prevent zoonoses, Stop the spread” to make the group aware of zoonotic illness, their potential dangers and methods of prevention and management, the place consultants from medical and veterinary professionals will deliberate views on tackling zoonoses underneath ‘One Health’ body.

Prof. Syed Akram Hussain, Head, Division of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this article are the private opinions of the writer.

The info, evaluation, assumptions and perspective showing within the article don’t mirror the views of GK.