PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ZOONOTIC DISEASES

1. At a Glance

• Zoonotic diseases are infections transmissible between vertebrate animals and humans; ~75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic [2][4].
• A Lok Sabha reply by the Ministry of Science & Technology (11 March 2026) detailed India's surveillance and case data for KFD, Leptospirosis, Scrub Typhus, Nipah, CCHF, West Nile and Rabies [1].
• For UPSC, the topic intersects public health (GS-II/III), One Health governance, biosecurity and S&T preparedness post-COVID-19 [1][3].

2. Why in the News

• PIB Press Release (11 Mar 2026) under the Ministry of Science & Technology answered a Parliament Question listing zoonoses tracked under IDSP-IHIP and reasons for spillover [1].
• Nipah outbreak in India in 2026 flagged by WHO Disease Outbreak News (DON593) [4].
• National One Health Mission Assembly 2025 at Bharat Mandapam inaugurated by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda [2].

3. Background & Evolution

• IDSP launched 2004 under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) with World Bank assistance; tracks >33 communicable diseases across all 36 States/UTs [4].
• IHIP (Integrated Health Information Platform) launched April 2021 by Dr Harsh Vardhan as the next-gen, near-real-time digital successor to IDSP's paper-based reporting [4].
• One Health Consortium launched by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in October 2021 [2].
• National Institute for One Health (NIOH), Nagpur — foundation stone by PM Modi (2022); BSL-IV laboratory planned [2].
• National One Health Mission (NOHM) — Cabinet-approved February 2024 on recommendation of the 21st PM-STIAC, steered by Principal Scientific Adviser's office; 16+ Ministries [2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Listed zoonoses under IDSP: Scrub Typhus, Leptospirosis, Human Rabies, Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Nipah Virus Disease, West Nile Fever [1].
• Reporting form: L-form on IDSP-IHIP [1].
• Nodal Ministry (surveillance): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare via NCDC [1][4].
• Nodal for NOHM: Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA); implementing agency — Department of Health Research / ICMR [2].
• NIOH Location: Nagpur, Maharashtra [2].
• NJORT (National Joint Outbreak Response Team) — multidisciplinary team across human, animal husbandry and wildlife sectors [2].
• BSL Network under NOHM: 23 BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories [2].
• VISHANU YUDDH ABHYAS — pandemic-preparedness mock drill under NOHM [2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological

• IHIP enables near-real-time outbreak detection, integrating private + public + lab data and capable of exchanging animal, environmental and climate data [4].
• NIOH Nagpur to host BSL-IV lab for novel/unknown zoonotic agents [2].

Administrative / Governance

• Demonstrates One Health convergence: MoHFW + DAHD + MoEFCC + DBT + DST + Ayush under PSA's office [2].
• Multi-ministerial coordination addresses long-standing silo problem in zoonoses control [2].

Environmental

• Spillover linked to habitat encroachment, climate change, wildlife trade; addressed via "human-wildlife-environment interface" study (PIB 2118855) [2].
• KFD ("monkey fever") concentrated in Western Ghats (Karnataka, Kerala, Goa) — biodiversity hotspot pressure [1].

Social / Public Health

• Occupational risk groups: forest workers (KFD), paddy farmers (Leptospirosis, Scrub Typhus), date-palm sap collectors / Nipah belt residents (Kerala) [1][3].
• Rabies — India accounts for ~36% of global human rabies deaths (WHO) [3].

Geopolitical / Strategic

• Post-COVID emphasis on pandemic preparedness; aligns with WHO's International Health Regulations (2005) and SE-Asia regional zoonosis strategy [3].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 11 Mar 2026 — Parliament Question reply on zoonotic diseases tabled by MoS, Science & Technology [1].
• 2026 — Fresh Nipah virus outbreak reported to WHO from India (DON593) [3].
• 2025 — National One Health Mission Assembly at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi [2].
• 2024 (Feb) — Cabinet approval of NOHM [2].
• VISHANU YUDDH ABHYAS mock drill conducted under NOHM [2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• IDSP launched 2004, World Bank assisted [4].
• IHIP launched April 2021 by MoHFW [4].
• L-form on IHIP is used for laboratory-confirmed case reporting [1].
• KFD is reported primarily from Karnataka and Western Ghats [1].
• NOHM approved by Cabinet in February 2024; steered by Principal Scientific Adviser, not MoHFW [2].
• Implementing agency for NOHM: Department of Health Research / ICMR [2].
• NIOH is being established at Nagpur with a BSL-IV lab [2].
• NOHM spans 16+ Central Ministries/Departments [2].
• NJORT = National Joint Outbreak Response Team [2].
• VISHANU YUDDH ABHYAS = pandemic-preparedness mock drill [2].
• Zoonoses listed under IDSP include CCHF, Nipah, West Nile, KFD, Scrub Typhus, Leptospirosis, Rabies [1].
• PM-STIAC's 21st meeting recommended NOHM [2].
• WHO Nipah DON for India issued in 2026 [3].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Issues relating to development & management of Social Sector / Services relating to Health; Government policies & interventions.
• GS-III: Science & Technology — applications; Disaster Management (biological disasters).
• Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss how the One Health approach can strengthen India's response to emerging zoonotic diseases. Evaluate the role of the National One Health Mission." 2. "75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. Examine the structural, ecological and governance drivers of zoonotic spillover in India." 3. "Critically assess the adequacy of IDSP-IHIP in detecting and responding to zoonotic outbreaks such as Nipah and KFD."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• One Health framework — convergence across human, animal, environmental health.
• National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) — nodal body for IDSP.
• Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) — strengthens BSL labs & surveillance.
• WHO International Health Regulations (2005) — global outbreak notification regime.
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) — overlapping One Health concern.
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002 — wildlife-interface link.
• Disaster Management Act, 2005 — used during COVID; basis for biological-disaster response.
• PM-STIAC — advisory body that recommended NOHM.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• NOHM is steered by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), not MoHFW; implementing arm is ICMR/DHR, not NCDC [2].
• IDSP is under MoHFW, but the March 2026 Parliament Question was answered by the Ministry of Science & Technology — the topic straddles ministries [1].
• NIOH (One Health) at Nagpur ≠ NIV (Virology) at Pune; do not conflate.
• IHIP is the digital platform, IDSP is the programme — IHIP did not replace IDSP, it digitised it [4].
• KFD vector is Haemaphysalis spinigera tick (not mosquito); West Nile is mosquito-borne — easy mix-up.