Lok Sabha Question No. 437 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-05
Subject: Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING UNSTARRED QUESTION No.437 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 th  DECEMBER, 2023

## ANIMAL PANDEMIC PREPAREDNES INITIATIVE

## 437. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

(a) the key strategies to address outbreaks including the lumpy skin disease among cattle Animal with the Pandemic Preparedness Initiative;

- (b) the details of basic parameters used for the selection of districts there under;

(c) the specific measures and infrastructure upgrades outlined in the initiatives to enhance disease surveillance, treatment and diagnostics;

- (d) the total number of cases of lumpy skin disease in the current year; and

(e)  Whether  there  is  a  defined  timeline  for  the  implementation  of  the  Animal  Pandemic Preparedness Initiative and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a): The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is taking all necessary steps to support States/ UTs to control and contain outbreak of diseases, which include financial and technical support under the Livestock Health  and  Disease  Control  Programme  (LH&DCP).  Financial  assistance  is  provided  to  the States/UTs as per the demand under Assistance to State for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) a component under the LH&DCP for procurement of vaccines for carrying out vaccination against various  diseases  including  Lumpy  Skin  Disease  (LSD).  Central  teams  also  visited  the  affected States/UTs to guide on corrective measures and technical ground support.  Additionally, there are National Action Plans and guidelines on diseases like Avian Influenza, African Swine Fever (ASF), Glanders and LSD for control and containment of diseases within a definite time frame. Further, the Animal  Pandemic  Preparedness Initiative (APPI) emphasizes policy intervention with key initiatives  like  early  warning  on  diseases,  outbreak  preparedness,  response,  surveillance  and research and development on priority diseases.

(b)&(c):  The  Animal  Pandemic  Preparedness  Initiative  (APPI)  is  a  comprehensive  plan  to  be implemented nationwide without the selection of specific districts to address the preparedness for emerging pandemic diseases in animals. The key strategies to address the outbreaks of pandemic diseases  includes  enhanced  disease  surveillance  in  collaboration  with  other  line  departments  for developing integrated disease surveillance system and establishment of investigation and outbreak response teams at the national and state level. There will be strengthening of the regulatory system, development  of  disease  modelling  algorithms,  targeted  research  and  development  on  vaccines, diagnostics, and therapies.

(d) The total number of cases of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) reported in the country during the year 2023 i.e from January till date is 7,33,90. However, the active cases are only 16302.

(e) There is no defined timeline for the implementation of the Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative.