World Zoonoses Day and India's One Health Initiatives

World Zoonoses Day and India's One Health Initiatives

#GS-2 #Governance & Social Justice #Health #Current Events #National

Why in News

  • The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organized a National Multistakeholder Consultation in New Delhi.
  • The meeting took place on World Zoonoses Day to discuss health strategies.
  • Participants deliberated on the draft National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses.
  • This draft plan builds on the One Health Approach to connect human, animal, and environmental health.

Key Highlights of World Zoonoses Day

  • People observe World Zoonoses Day on 6th July every year.
  • This day marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur's first successful rabies vaccine in 1885.
  • The official theme for the year 2026 is One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses.
  • The new national plan will guide States and Union Territories to design their own customized local plans.
  • The government launched two technical tools under the National One Health Programme for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses.
  • The first tool is a Learning Resource Package that targets 10 priority zoonotic diseases.
  • These priority diseases include Anthrax, Brucellosis, Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), and Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).
  • Other targeted diseases are Nipah, Mpox, Rabies, Leptospirosis, Scrub Typhus, and Zika.
  • The second tool consists of E-Learning Modules to train doctors, veterinarians, and public health workers.
  • Experts highlighted the need to share real-time health data across sectors using the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) 2.0.
  • The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will lead these disease surveillance efforts and handle risk communication.

About Zoonotic Diseases

  • Zoonoses are infectious diseases that naturally spread between vertebrate animals and humans.
  • Different pathogens like viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi cause these illnesses.
  • Direct contact with an infected animal's saliva, blood, urine, or feces can transmit the disease.
  • Indirect contact with surfaces or areas where infected animals live can also spread the infection.
  • Vector-borne transmission happens when bugs like ticks, mosquitoes, or fleas bite a person.
  • Foodborne transmission occurs when people consume contaminated meat, unpasteurized milk, or dirty water.