New Delhi, April 6 (IANS) The government’s One Health approach is vital for both predicting as well as preventing any future zoonotic — disease that jumps from animals to humans — outbreak, health experts opined on Saturday, ahead of the World Health Day which is marked every year on April 7.
This year’s theme ‘My Health, My Right’ focuses on equal access to quality health care.
“The government’s focus on the ‘One Health’ approach, recognising the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health, is vital for predicting and preventing future zoonotic disease outbreaks,” Dr. Rohit Garg, consultant, infectious disease, Amrita Hospital Faridabad, told IANS.
The experts noted that the country’s response to recent outbreaks of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Nipah virus demonstrates its evolving capacity to manage infectious diseases.
They noted that lessons from each event have helped the country to improve its preparedness for future pandemics, including the hypothetical Disease X. “India’s response to recent disease outbreaks has been moulded by our experience with Covid-19. Recent moves to expand the existing network of biosafety-level 3 and 4 laboratories, to expand surveillance for respiratory viruses, invest in diagnostic infrastructure, and formulate a One Health approach towards emerging diseases are welcome and important steps towards tackling such challenges,” Gautam Menon, Dean, Research and Professor of Physics and Biology, Ashoka University, told IANS.
Besides ramping up testing facilities, expanding healthcare infrastructure, and contact tracing, during the Covid pandemic Indias significant measures included its vaccination drive.
It was one of the largest globally, and was pivotal, with India developing an indigenous vaccine, Covaxin, alongside deploying other vaccines.
“These actions highlighted the country’s ability to mobilise vast resources and innovate under pressure,” said Dr Rohit.
Similarly, during the Nipah virus outbreaks, although more localised, India employed rapid response teams, enhanced surveillance, and implemented containment measures.
“India, post-pandemic, is very different in terms of capacity for pathogen surveillance and pandemic prevention or control when compared to pre-pandemic times. This is partly infrastructural, in terms of greater scientific and health capacity, but mostly structural in terms of better-defined roles for existing organisations, and creation of new multi-stakeholder institutions e.g. for One Health,” Anurag Agrawal, Dean of Biosciences and Health Research at Trivedi School of Biosciences at Ashoka University, told IANS.
–IANS
rvt/pgh
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by BhaskarLive.in and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of BhaskarLive.in We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, BhaskarLive.in takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
