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Rachel V Thomas

World Zoonoses Day 2026: ICMR Scientist Shares Key Steps To Prevent Future Pandemics

World Zoonoses Day is being observed today amid growing concerns over the rising threat of zoonotic diseases such as <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/ebola">Ebola</a>, Marburg and Nipah. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic, while nearly 75% of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals.

According to the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID), spillover events—where pathogens jump from animals to humans—have tripled since the 1980s, fueled by deforestation, wildlife trade, industrial farming and climate change.

In an interview with HealthandMe, Dr Nivedita Gupta, Scientist and Head of the Communicable Diseases Division at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), outlined the key measures policymakers should prioritize to reduce the risk of future pandemics and strengthen global health security.

Dr Gupta stressed that preventing the next pandemic requires a proactive approach built on integrated surveillance, coordinated data sharing, community participation and stronger indigenous research and development.

According to Dr Gupta, the first priority should be strengthening surveillance across all sectors—across humans, animals and the environment.

"I think first part is that surveillance should be strengthened in all domains, whether it is human surveillance, animal surveillance, wildlife surveillance, as well as environmental surveillance. So, we really need to do integrated surveillance and strengthen all aspects."

She said early detection is critical to identifying emerging pathogens before they become larger public health threats.

"Unless we are able to detect what is happening at various interfaces, we will never come to know that a certain pathogen or a disease is emerging."

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/world-zoonoses-day-2026-next-pandemic-very-likely-and-the-world-is-still-underprepared-says-who-scientist-article-154951017" data-type="tilCustomLink">World Zoonoses Day 2026: Next Pandemic Very Likely, And The World Is Still Underprepared, Says WHO Scientist</a>

The second major priority, she said, is ensuring that surveillance data across sectors is connected.

"If I'm seeing unusual bird or animal deaths, if I'm sitting in human sector, I should also know about it and I should be able to act very timely to understand whether there are any implications on humans and vice versa."

Dr Gupta said data from human, animal and wildlife surveillance systems should "talk to each other" to detect zoonotic diseases at an early stage.

She also highlighted the importance of recognizing reverse zoonosis.

"It's not only that we get infections from animals, birds, and wildlife, but animals also get infected from humans. So, that is known as reverse zoonosis. So, it is both ways."

According to her, anything occurring in the human sector should raise equal alarm in the non-human sectors, and vice versa.

<h2>Communities Should Become 'Eyes And Ears'</h2>

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/natural-origin-or-lab-leak-gabbard-reignites-covid-origins-debate-claims-fauci-funded-wuhan-lab-research-article-154683911" data-type="tilCustomLink">Natural Origin or Lab Leak? Gabbard Reignites COVID Origins Debate, Claims Fauci Funded Wuhan Lab Research</a>

Dr Gupta said community participation is another critical pillar of pandemic preparedness.

"I think we really need massive community sensitization. And community should be our eyes and ears because there are many people who live in remote areas, who live in forest fringes, and they might be seeing many unusual things happening like sudden deaths among animals, carcasses."

She noted that there is currently no system to help people recognize unusual events or report them to the authorities.

"I think those systems wherein our community can be our eyes and ears is something that we really need to develop in our country so that any unusual occurrence which happens within domestic animals or forest fringes or in birds or poultry farms can be immediately reported to the relevant authorities and a timely action can be taken."

Dr Gupta also stressed the need to strengthen the research ecosystem and also work in collaboration with the industry. She said academia and industry currently work in separate silos, making it difficult to rapidly translate research into products.

It is important "to align academia and industry so that industry gets ready-made products which align with the priorities of the country."

The expert added that stronger industry-academia partnerships would help develop products that serve national priorities.

On the role of citizens, Dr Gupta said individuals can contribute by reporting unusual events involving animals or wildlife.

"If I see any unusual thing happening in my domestic settings or around me or if I'm a person residing at forest fringes or in bird sanctuaries, I see unusual deaths, I should be able to report them."

However, she pointed out that governments must first establish a reporting mechanism. "So, currently, even if I want to report today, I don't know where to go."

She said people need to be informed about what constitutes an unusual event and how to report it.

"I think that community sensitization telling them what is unusual, what has to be taken up with a pinch of salt, what has to be reported to the authorities really needs to be told to the people of the country so that they start reporting and they become our sentinels."

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World Zoonoses Day is being observed today amid growing concerns over the rising threat of zoonotic diseases such as Ebola, Marburg and Nipah. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic, while nearly 75% of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals. According to the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID), spillover events—where pathogens jump from animals to humans—have tripled since the 1980s, fueled by deforestation, wildlife trade, industrial farming and climate change.In an interview with HealthandMe, Dr Nivedita Gupta, Scientist and Head of the Communicable Diseases Division at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), outlined the key measures policymakers should prioritize to reduce the risk of future pandemics and strengthen global health security.Dr Gupta stressed that preventing the next pandemic requires a proactive approach built on integrated surveillance, coordinated data sharing, community participation and stronger indigenous research and development.Strengthening SurveillanceAccording to Dr Gupta, the first priority should be strengthening surveillance across all sectors—across humans, animals and the environment."I think first part is that surveillance should be strengthened in all domains, whether it is human surveillance, animal surveillance, wildlife surveillance, as well as environmental surveillance. So, we really need to do integrated surveillance and strengthen all aspects."She said early detection is critical to identifying emerging pathogens before they become larger public health threats."Unless we are able to detect what is happening at various interfaces, we will never come to know that a certain pathogen or a disease is emerging."Also read: World Zoonoses Day 2026: Next Pandemic Very Likely, And The World Is Still Underprepared, Says WHO ScientistHuman And Animal Health DataThe second major priority, she said, is ensuring that surveillance data across sectors is connected."If I'm seeing unusual bird or animal deaths, if I'm sitting in human sector, I should also know about it and I should be able to act very timely to understand whether there are any implications on humans and vice versa."Dr Gupta said data from human, animal and wildlife surveillance systems should "talk to each other" to detect zoonotic diseases at an early stage.She also highlighted the importance of recognizing reverse zoonosis."It's not only that we get infections from animals, birds, and wildlife, but animals also get infected from humans. So, that is known as reverse zoonosis. So, it is both ways."According to her, anything occurring in the human sector should raise equal alarm in the non-human sectors, and vice versa.Communities Should Become 'Eyes And Ears'Also read: Natural Origin or Lab Leak? Gabbard Reignites COVID Origins Debate, Claims Fauci Funded Wuhan Lab ResearchDr Gupta said community participation is another critical pillar of pandemic preparedness."I think we really need massive community sensitization. And community should be our eyes and ears because there are many people who live in remote areas, who live in forest fringes, and they might be seeing many unusual things happening like sudden deaths among animals, carcasses."She noted that there is currently no system to help people recognize unusual events or report them to the authorities."I think those systems wherein our community can be our eyes and ears is something that we really need to develop in our country so that any unusual occurrence which happens within domestic animals or forest fringes or in birds or poultry farms can be immediately reported to the relevant authorities and a timely action can be taken."Strengthen Indigenous R&D Dr Gupta also stressed the need to strengthen the research ecosystem and also work in collaboration with the industry. She said academia and industry currently work in separate silos, making it difficult to rapidly translate research into products.It is important "to align academia and industry so that industry gets ready-made products which align with the priorities of the country."The expert added that stronger industry-academia partnerships would help develop products that serve national priorities.What Can Individuals Do?On the role of citizens, Dr Gupta said individuals can contribute by reporting unusual events involving animals or wildlife."If I see any unusual thing happening in my domestic settings or around me or if I'm a person residing at forest fringes or in bird sanctuaries, I see unusual deaths, I should be able to report them."However, she pointed out that governments must first establish a reporting mechanism. "So, currently, even if I want to report today, I don't know where to go."She said people need to be informed about what constitutes an unusual event and how to report it."I think that community sensitization telling them what is unusual, what has to be taken up with a pinch of salt, what has to be reported to the authorities really needs to be told to the people of the country so that they start reporting and they become our sentinels."

world zoonoses day 2026: icmr scientist shares key steps to prevent future pandemics

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