1. Odisha government strengthens seven health labs to address future pandemics.
2. Focus on zoonotic diseases amid concerns about the pneumonia outbreak in China.
3. Ministry targets 20 diseases, including anthrax, scrub typhus, rabies, and bird flu.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 30: The Odisha government is taking proactive measures to strengthen seven public health laboratories across the state to tackle potential future pandemics, particularly zoonotic diseases.
In response to concerns over a pneumonia outbreak in China and the concept of “disease X,” the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is focusing on 20 zoonotic diseases, including anthrax, scrub typhus, rabies, swine flu, bird flu, and others.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about the increasing risk of infectious pathogens spreading globally due to factors like increased travel, food habits, and cross-border trade.
The project, named ‘One Health,’ aims to conduct surveillance of important bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, including both zoonotic and transboundary pathogens.
The government plans to strengthen regional public health laboratories for diagnostic tests and develop additional methodologies as needed for surveillance and understanding the spread of emerging diseases, often referred to as “disease X.”
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Scientists estimate that a significant number of new or emerging infectious diseases in humans originate from animals, emphasizing the importance of monitoring zoonotic diseases.
Odisha’s public health director, Dr. Niranjan Mishra, highlighted the devastating impacts of zoonotic diseases on animals, humans, health systems, and economies.
The state government is collaborating with various stakeholders, including wildlife, agriculture, veterinary, and disaster management, to intensify surveillance in an integrated manner.
The initial phase of strengthening public health labs will focus on three identified locations: medical colleges and hospitals in Koraput, Balangir, and Baripada. Four additional locations will be shortlisted in the future.
The comprehensive approach includes capacity building of testing facilities and manpower, integration of surveillance mechanisms, community engagement, and diagnosis and treatment.
A two-day orientation program was conducted with experts from global and national institutions, such as the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the USA, WHO, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The aim is to create a unique action plan for effective disease monitoring and response in the face of potential pandemics.
