In 2011 and 2012 MIEF with the support of Department of Science, Government of India and many medical professionals (both veterinarians and medical professionals) has been conducting seminars and has published a book on Zoonotic diseases to build awareness in this sector. As more of us have pets, and our children get exposed to animals (whether at home or outside) understanding the risks of diseases and infections has gained paramount importance.
The key issue reported in this sector has been that a territorial tussle between physicians and veterinarians is leading to neglect in research of Zoonotic diseases and in turn hampering awareness campaigns for such animal-to-human diseases such as Rabies, Swine Flu, and TB, according to experts. MIEF’s book and seminars hope to bring these stakeholders together and address the cooperation and information asymmetries in this domain.
Zoonotic diseases are illnesses spread between animals and pets. These illnesses can be in the form of viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal or parasite infections. Zoonoses constitute about 60 % of all known human infections and 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic and a new global study has put India as one of the “hotspots” for the highest incidence of Zoonotic diseases, according to a World Health Organisation report, with widespread illnesses and death, according to a new global study mapping animal-to-human diseases such as TB and Rift Valley fever. Such diseases are responsible for 2.4 billion cases of human illness and 2.2 million death every year across the world, the study conducted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Institute of Zoology (UK) and the Hanoi School of Public Health says.
Do not hesitate to reach out to us in case you wanted a manual for these diseases that MIEF published for free distribution.
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