Srinagar, July 06: To celebrate World Zoonoses Day, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir Thursday organised a symposium on the transmission, control and prevention of zoonoses – the diseases that can spread between humans and animals – at the Shuhama campus.
World Zoonoses Day is observed every year to honour French scientist Louis Pasteur who invented the first vaccine and spread awareness about zoonotic diseases. The theme of the day for this year was ‘One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses, Stop Spread’.
Varsity’s Division of Veterinary Public Health and Division of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry organised the programme under the World Bank-ICAR funded National Agricultural Higher Education Programme (NAHEP) for the institutional development of SKUAST-K.
The symposium was attended by scientists from various divisions, teachers from different Higher Secondary institutes and High Schools, field paramedical and para-veterinarian staff from line departments, livestock attendants, farmers besides postgraduate students.
Acting Vice Chancellor and Director Education, SKUAST-K, Prof MAA Siddiqui, the chief guest at the occasion, highlighted the importance of the ‘One Health’ approach involving multi-sectoral coordination in medical, veterinary and environmental specialists to combat zoonoses.
Dean, FVSc & AH, Prof Mohammad Tufail Banday, stressed on need and importance of creating awareness among different stakeholders on various aspects of zoonoses for the existence of a prosperous community. Prof. Banday also threw light on other domains of the zoonotic triad and the role of Vets in combating the different animal-origin diseases and ensuring one Health in its real essence.
Earlier, Prof Syed Akram Hussain, Head Division of Veterinary Public Health & Organising Secretary of the event, gave a brief about the sessions of the day and highlighted the importance of controlling the emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases as they account for more than 60% of all infectious diseases and 75% of all emerging pathogens.
The prominent speakers delivering their lectures in today’s symposium include Prof S Salim Khan, Head, Department of Community Medicine, Govt Medical College, Srinagar; Dr Abdul Rouf, Senior Resident Dept. of Community Medicine, GMC, Srinagar, Dr. Danish Pandit Lecturer, Dept of Microbiology, GMC Srinagar; Prof Rafiq A Shahardar, Prof & Head Division of Veterinary Parasitology and Prof Zia Ul Hassan Munshi, former Head Division of Veterinary Public Health SKUAST-K.
