Theme: Preparedness for future epidemic/pandemic lessons learnt from COVID-19
Veterinary Hospital Kohima
World Zoonoses Day is observed every year on 6th July to create awareness on the growing threat of zoonotic diseases and ways to prevent them. A French biologist Louis Pasteur successfully provided the first rabies vaccine, a zoonotic disease, on July 6, 1885. And this day is held to commemorate his contribution to the study of zoonotic diseases. The theme for this year 2023 is "Preparedness for future epidemic/pandemic lessons learnt from COVID-19." The theme raises awareness on the significance of the prevention and treatment of zoonotic diseases and recognizes the tremendous progress humanity has made in this area. It is crucial for people to be knowledgeable about zoonotic diseases in order to prevent situations similar to this from occurring again.
When we prevent diseases in animals we safe guard the health of the people. Zoonotic disease is defined as any diseases that are transmitted from animal to man and vice versa. Some of the most common zoonotic diseases are Cysticercosis, Japanese encephalitis, Avian influenza, Anthrax, Brucellosis, Ring worm, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Bovine Tuberculosis, Rabies, Toxoplasmosis etc.
As much as 60% of all existing infectious diseases are zoonotic and at least 70% of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals. Most of the emerging diseases such as Dengue, Bubonic plague, Monkey pox, Nipah virus, Cholera, Influenza etc are becoming zoonotic in nature due to adverse climatic condition, deforestation, rapid urbanization, environmental pollution and increase in human animal contact. Zoonotic diseases are transmitted from an infected animal to man through various agents like viral, bacterial, protozoa, fungal, parasites etc. A person may be infected with animals' diseases directly or indirectly through bites, scratches of animals, flies, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, bat, rat and snail. Zoonotic diseases being the linkages between animals and human beings as such collaborative efforts from all stake holders must work together to break the chain of zoonotic diseases transmission for a better sound animal health and for human health.
