Lok Sabha Question No. 292 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Zoonotic Diseases
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Prabhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *292

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## Zoonotic Diseases

## *292.  SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY िवǒान और ŮौȨोिगकी मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  there  is  a  sudden  spurt  of  zoonotic  diseases  in  the country in the last few years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that new diseases affecting human beings are largely coming from  pathogens  released  from  an  animal  or  from  products  of  animal origin and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the efforts being made  by  the Government  for vaccine development in this regard, Department-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

िवǒानऔर ŮौȨोिगकी मंũालय क े राǛमंũी ( ˢतंũ Ůभार ) ( डॉ . िजतŐū िसंह )

- (a), (b), (c) & (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  IN  RESPECT  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  *292  TO  BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023 REGARDING 'ZOONOTIC DISEASES'

(a) No  sudden  spurt  of  zoonotic  diseases  in  the  country  had  been  observed. However, several new zoonotic diseases have emerged during the last decade.

(b) The  incidence  of  zoonotic  diseases  has  been  on  the  rise  in  the  last  decade. These  diseases  have  been  expanding  their  territory  or  have  been  identified  as  new pathogens. India has seen the incidence of a few of these diseases including Bird flu, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and Nipah virus.

Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  monitors  infectious  prone  diseases  and  zoonotic diseases outbreaks under Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP). Under the programme, through an IT Portal the data is entered by 2,63,616 facilities across all States  and  UTs.  The  diseases  being  monitored  include  -  Rabies,  Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic  fever  (CCHF),  Kyasanur  Forest  Disease  (KFD),  Brucellosis,  Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Scrub Typhus, Leptospirosis, Anthrax, West Nile Fever, etc.

- (c) The  new  or  emerging  zoonotic  diseases  affecting  human  beings  have  been shown to be acquired from wild animals, and not from domestic animals. Wild animals such  as  bats,  rodents,  and  primates  act  as  reservoir  for  many  zoonotic  diseases affecting humans. Pathogen spill over from wildlife to human community happens when human  proximity  towards  wild  animals  and  wild  ecosystem  increases.  Increase  in human exposure to wild animals happens due to encroaching forest land, hunting and wild animal trade. Patterns of pathogen spread have changed due to global warming, humidity, rainfall etc. Various reports have highlighted that emerging and re-emerging diseases in humans are on the rise in recent decades. In India, Japanese encephalitis (JEV),  Kyasanur  Forest  Disease  (KFD),  Crimean-Congo  haemorrhagic  fever  (CCHF), Avian influenza, Nipah encephalitis are mainly reported to transmit via animal to human.
- (d) Department  of  Biotechnology  is  continuously  supporting  various  projects  for development of vaccines for zoonotic diseases. Various vaccines have been developed through DBT supported projects for Brucellosis, Anthrax, Leptospirosis, Classical Swine Fever (CSF) etc. Further, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with its industry academia  interface  agency,  Biotechnology  Industry  Research  Assistance  Council (BIRAC), has facilitated strengthening of ecosystem for vaccine development, through various  schemes/programmes  including  Mission  programmes  such  as  the  National Biopharma Mission, Mission Ind-CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) and Mission COVID Suraksha.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  initiated  an All  Indian  Network Program on One Health Approach for research on diagnosis and control  of  Zoonotic Diseases. The National One Health Program for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses is another ongoing program of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi. All  these  projects  aim  at  capacity  building  and  preparedness  to  tackle  zoonotic diseases. Ancovax vaccine developed by ICAR is an Inactivated COVID-19 vaccine for animals. It is safe for use in dogs, lion, leopards, mice and rabbits.

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