TestCloud
Prep • Practice • Perform
Log In

India Initiates Inter-Ministerial Study to Detect Zoonotic Diseases Under 'One Health' Approach.

National | Dated: 07 Apr 2025

In April 2025, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in New Delhi launched a pioneering inter-ministerial scientific study titled "Building a Surveillance Model for Detecting Zoonotic Spillover in Increased Bird-Human Interaction Settings Using the One Health Approach."

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - This initiative, under the National One Health Mission (NOHM), aims to assess zoonotic disease risks at the intersection of human, bird, and environmental health.
  • - The project will focus on creating India's first Early Warning System (EWS) for zoonotic spillovers to enhance preparedness for future outbreaks.
  • - The study will be conducted in select bird sanctuaries and wetlands in Sikkim, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu (TN), targeting migratory birds, sanctuary workers, and nearby residents.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) In TN, the research will take place at the Point Calimere bird sanctuary in Nagapattinam and Vaduvur bird sanctuary in Tiruvarur from May 2025.
  • (ii) The study will employ Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and periodic sampling of birds, humans, and environmental specimens to detect pathogens such as avian influenza.
  • (iii) This collaborative effort involves the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). The initiative is aligned with the 2025 International Year of One Health, which was declared by global organizations to address interconnected health challenges.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which organization has recently initiated an inter-ministerial study to detect zoonotic diseases under the 'One Health' approach?

Correct Answer: ICMR

🚀 Quick Recap: