RIMS director moots inter-disciplinary approach to combat zoonoses
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 05 2025: Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Imphal director Professor G Sunilkumar Sharma stressed the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to deal with zoonoses - diseases transmissible from animals to humans.

The Continuing Medical Education (CME) and National One Health Programme for the Prevention and Control of Zoonoses (NOHP-PCZ), Department of Microbiology, RIMS observed World Zoonoses Day on the theme of 'Zoonoses in Manipur: An Update' at Banting Hall of the Institute on Saturday.

Speaking as the Chief guest, RIMS director Prof G Sunilkumar Sharma stated that RIMS has a specified isolation ward for zoonoses cases, which helps in preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases.

He observed that the spread of zoonotic diseases has its interlinkage with the environment and underlined the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between medical professional, veterinarian, environmental scientist, public health experts and communities to address the concern.

"There is a need for education, prevention and resilience of public health system", he stressed.

Prof Sunil then urged the research faculty and students to focus on active surveillance, while suggesting more public awareness campaign, diagnosis, vaccine research and providing health education at community level.

RIMS Department of Microbiology head Prof H Rebachandra said that zoonoses are those diseases which can be spread between vertebrates, as per WHO.

'So far, there are 309 types of zoonotic diseases, which could be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic," he opined, adding that to prevent the spread of these diseases, NOHP-PCZ has been taken up.

Under this programme, manpower training is provided from time to time, in addition to setting up required infrastructure for diagnosis the diseased, he said.

With regard to RIMS, a regional coordinator has been appointed to provide training, CME and collection of blood sample for testing, he informed.

NOHP-PCZ regional coordinator Dr Shakti Laishram delivered the keynote address, stating that various factors such as increased human-animal interactions, growth in livestock and poultry populations, encroachment into forests and wooded areas, and climate change and expanding vector population play a role in the spread of zoonotic diseases.

She also iterated that controlling zoonotic diseases demands a united front of veterinary experts, public health professionals, forestry and environmental agencies, and education departments.

The observance was attended by RIMS MS Prof Nepram Sanjib; Institute dean (Academics) in-charge Prof Laishram Rajesh; and Manipur Zoological Garden director Laishram Biramangol as guests of honour.

Comment