ICMR is initiating a scientific project to track and address the risk of zoonotic diseases—illnesses that jump from animals to humans—at the intersection of bird, human, and environmental health. This first-of-its-kind inter-ministerial effort will use the One Health approach to build a real-time disease surveillance system focused on bird sanctuary workers and nearby communities.
Launched at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) headquarters, the study titled “Building a surveillance model for detecting zoonotic spillover in increased bird-human interaction settings using the One Health approach” will take place in selected bird sanctuaries and wetlands across Sikkim, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. It aims to monitor the health of both humans and migratory bird species, as well as their surrounding ecosystems.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of ICMR and Secretary of the Department of Health Research, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that just as radars are vital for defense, advanced surveillance systems are essential for the early detection of emerging health threats. He noted that the National One Health Mission reflects India’s commitment to using cutting-edge science for proactive preparedness rather than reactive responses to public health emergencies.
Dr. Ranjan Das, Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), highlighted the urgency of understanding what causes zoonotic spillovers. He praised the initiative as a key element in India’s broader strategy to detect, prevent, and control health threats emerging from the human-animal-environment interface.
Dr. Sangeeta Aggarwal, a senior scientist from the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, called the project a pioneering example of inter-ministerial collaboration, which is vital for building robust and responsive health systems.
Mr. Sunil Sharma, Assistant Inspector General of Forests at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), emphasized the deep connection between biodiversity conservation and public health. He affirmed MoEFCC’s ongoing support for the One Health initiative and its goals.
Given India’s strategic location along the Central Asian migratory bird flyway, its bird sanctuaries are hots-pots for human-avian interaction, raising the risk of zoonotic transmission. Workers such as veterinarians and rescue teams face elevated exposure due to their close contact with wildlife. The study will include periodic collection and testing of biological and environmental samples using advanced technologies like Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to identify new or emerging pathogens.
This ambitious project, backed by ministries of Environment, Health, and Agriculture, aims to establish India’s first real-time early warning system for zoonotic spillovers. By uniting environmental science, animal health, and human medicine, the initiative represents a major step forward in strengthening India’s ability to prevent and respond to future public health crises.
