Health ministry plans measures to combat rising zoonotic diseases

With India being identified as a hot-spot for zoonotic diseases, the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare is planning a number of combative steps including coordination cell and appointment of veterinary consultants under the Disease Surveillance and Response Programme to check these diseases.
Zoonotic diseases account for a substantial burden of morbidity and mortality due to endemic as well as emerging diseases. While 61 per cent (868/1415) of all identified infectious organisms are zoonotic, about 75 per cent (132/175) of pathogens associated with emerging diseases are zoonotic, according to statistics collected by the Ministry, following increasing apprehension about the rise of such diseases.
“A strong coordination is needed between human health, animal health and other sectors at all levels to control the zoonotic diseases like avian influenza, plague, rabies, leptospirosis, etc. Existing Committees and Groups (for example, Standing Committee on Zoonoses, Joint Monitoring Group) at central level and existing disease surveillance committees at state level will be responsible for inter-sectoral coordination. A zoonosis coordination cell will be established to monitor the activities,” sources said.
Besides, one additional contractual position for a veterinary (consultant) is proposed under the Disease Surveillance and Response Programme at state level to improve inter-sectoral coordination and to support the State Surveillance Officer in tackling the zoonotic diseases. At the district and the block levels, District Surveillance Officer would coordinate the activities between veterinary, municipal corporation/committees and other local bodies and voluntary agencies involved in the subject.
The Ministry is also seeking an amount of Rs.51.08 crore every year under the next Five Year Plan towards this programme. Activities would also include lab strengthening for identified target diseases and manpower development, sources said.
A zoonosis is any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans. The number of human deaths in India due to rabies alone is 20,000 every year of the total of 55,000 global deaths.
Source:Pharmabiz