31-May-2025 Daily Answer Writing
Q1) Discuss the challenges in implementing India’s One Health mission in the context of zoonotic outbreaks like bird flu.
(GS2, 15 Marks, 250 words)
Answer:
India’s “One Health” approach aims to integrate human, animal, and environmental health for comprehensive pandemic preparedness. The recent recurrence of bird flu outbreaks underscores the need for effective One Health implementation to prevent zoonotic disease spillovers.
Institutional Fragmentation:
Multiple ministries—Health, Agriculture, Environment—often function in silos, lacking coordinated surveillance and data-sharing mechanisms across sectors.
Limited Veterinary Infrastructure:
Shortage of trained veterinarians, especially in rural areas, weakens disease detection in animal populations before transmission to humans.
Example: Many states lack veterinary labs capable of identifying avian influenza strains swiftly.
Surveillance and Data Gaps:
Inadequate disease monitoring systems in wildlife and livestock sectors hinder early warning.
Example: Bird flu outbreaks often get detected only after poultry deaths, not in wild carriers.
Funding Constraints:
Public health and veterinary sectors are underfunded. Integrated One Health projects require sustained budgetary support and global partnerships.
Public Awareness and Risk Communication:
Misinformation and panic during zoonotic outbreaks like bird flu result from poor community-level education and lack of grassroots engagement.
Environmental Degradation:
Encroachment into forest areas and high-density animal farming increase human-animal contact, accelerating zoonotic transmission risks.
Conclusion:
The One Health mission is critical to India’s biosecurity and public health resilience. Strengthening intersectoral collaboration, investing in infrastructure, and leveraging community engagement can operationalize One Health to effectively manage zoonotic outbreaks like bird flu.
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