Do we understand the actual importance of World Zoonosis Day? – An opinion

Dear Editor,

Zoonoses are defined as diseases and infections that are naturally transmitted between people and vertebrate animals. In the last three decades, more than 30 new pathogens were detected which were responsible for the zoonotic infections in humans.^[1] Every year July 6^th is celebrated as World zoonosis day to make people aware of different zoonotic diseases. Examples being like avian influenza, Ebola, West Nile virus, and SARS. This day is celebrated in honor of the French scientist Louis Pasteur. He first used anti-rabies vaccination on this day.^[2]

More than 300 infectious agents causing diseases have been identified between 1940 and 2004. About 60% of these have been classified as zoonotic diseases. Many of these infections belong to neglected tropical zoonotic diseases caused by bacteria, virus, or any other organisms.^[3] These zoonotic infections can have a crushing effect on the world economy and are a major reason for poverty in many regions of the world.^[4]

Zoonotic disease has a major impact on global public health that will increase because we are more interconnected with animal species.^[5] Prevention and control of zoonotic infections need a multipronged approach. It can be routine vaccination in resource-limiting settings, culling of infected or suspected infected livestock, robust biosecurity programs, and effective communications systems to community education that can play a key role.^[6]

Last year on world zoonosis day, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the one health course series. These course series were for effectively preventing, detecting, and responding to health challenges that arise at the interface between humans, animals, and the environment.^[7] For the last many years, the WHO monitors global health-related issues. They give time-to-time guidelines for better health and disease prevention advice. On world health day and world zoonotic disease day, the WHO celebrates it with a new theme every year but after the celebration completion, the theme loses its appeal. Last year, they gave a theme, this year again they will give a new theme. All materials and pamphlets will be packed after the day passes and kept for the next year. The current pandemic has shown what havoc a zoonotic disease can cause. That pandemic completely blew open the health system of the whole world and it could finish the whole globe. Fortunately, our mother Earth and we humans were saved from the distraction but it does not mean; it will not happen again in the future.

We have to be alert. We have to take part in the prevention of zoonotic disease. We do not have to do anything major or a new invention; we just have to follow the hand hygiene and standard precaution method in daily life as and when required. This will help to prevent the zoonotic disease from spreading and transferring.

If we not be prepared this time, nature and zoonotic disease not give us another chance. Hence, we all need to be alert for any such thing in the future.