Uttar Pradesh Adopts One Health Framework to Boost Early Detection of Zoonotic Diseases
The Uttar Pradesh Animal Husbandry Department has announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening the early identification, reporting, and surveillance of emerging zoonotic diseases through a One Health framework approach.
What Happened
According to Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Additional Chief Secretary for the Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries Department, the state government is expanding its laboratory capacities, field-level biosecurity, and interdepartmental coordination to better manage animal and zoonotic disease risks.
To support field personnel, the department has created a resource titled Compendium for Veterinarians on Zoonotic & Priority Animal Diseases. This guide aims to improve the understanding of field veterinarians regarding standardized case definitions, disease tracking, and prompt reporting mechanisms. Diagnostic capabilities are also being expanded with the rollout of ELISA-based testing for high-priority zoonotic infections.
Key Highlights
- Diagnostic and Laboratory Upgrades: The state is expanding diagnostic testing for priority zoonotic infections using ELISA-based methods.
- Resource for Field Personnel: A dedicated compendium has been developed to help veterinarians identify case definitions, monitor conditions, and report disease occurrences swiftly.
- District-Level Biosecurity: Specific interventions to improve farm-level biosecurity, infection control, and prevention practices are underway in Pilibhit and Gorakhpur districts.
- Avian Influenza Monitoring: Under the RISE Global Health Security (RISE GHS) Project, the Animal Husbandry Department and the Forest and Wildlife Department conducted surveillance across 19 Ramsar and critical wetland sites. More than 1,100 samples from wild migratory birds were gathered and examined at IVRI, Bareilly during the previous migratory season.
- Veterinary Training: A State-Level Training of Trainers (ToT) program is organized for government veterinarians, focusing on interdepartmental coordination, spillover risks, integrated data sharing, and early outbreak containment.
Why This Matters
Zoonotic diseases originate in animals and can spread to humans. Establishing integrated surveillance mechanisms—such as monitoring migratory bird populations and standardizing veterinary reporting—enables health and veterinary authorities to identify potential disease spillover risks at an earlier stage.
What to Watch Next
Surveillance for Avian Influenza is scheduled to continue during the upcoming migratory bird season across all Ramsar sites and significant wetlands in Uttar Pradesh. In addition, the state will conduct its Training of Trainers program to further prepare government veterinarians for coordinated disease response.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the focus of Uttar Pradesh’s One Health initiative?
The initiative emphasizes early identification, enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, farm biosecurity, and interdepartmental collaboration to prevent and respond to emerging zoonotic diseases.
Which districts are receiving focused farm biosecurity measures?
The state has initiated farm-level biosecurity interventions specifically in the Pilibhit and Gorakhpur districts to improve infection control and disease prevention practices.
Where were avian influenza samples analyzed during the recent surveillance?
More than 1,100 samples collected from wild migratory birds across 19 wetland and Ramsar sites were tested at IVRI in Bareilly.
Source: Information shared by the Uttar Pradesh Animal Husbandry Department and reported by The Hindu.