From the Research
To prioritize zoonotic diseases in Haryana, India using a One Health approach, I recommend implementing a structured multisectoral framework that engages stakeholders from human health, animal health, and environmental sectors, as evidenced by the most recent study in 2023 1. The prioritization should begin with establishing a technical working group comprising representatives from the state's health department, veterinary services, wildlife authorities, and environmental agencies. This group should first identify relevant zoonotic diseases present in the region, including but not limited to:
- Rabies
- Brucellosis
- Avian influenza
- Tuberculosis
- Leptospirosis
- Japanese encephalitis The prioritization process should utilize standardized criteria such as:
- Disease burden
- Epidemic potential
- Economic impact
- Prevention capability
- Severity of illness A semi-quantitative scoring method should be employed where each disease is rated against these criteria by experts from different sectors, as seen in the study 1. Following this assessment, diseases should be ranked based on their cumulative scores to identify those requiring immediate attention and resource allocation. This approach is justified by the interconnected nature of human, animal, and environmental health in zoonotic disease transmission, particularly relevant in Haryana's agricultural landscape with high livestock density and human-animal interaction, as highlighted in the study 1. The prioritization exercise should be repeated every 3-5 years to account for changing disease patterns and emerging threats. The top scoring eight diseases selected as priority zoonotic diseases for Haryana were:
- Rabies
- Japanese encephalitis
- Bovine tuberculosis
- Leptospirosis
- Avian influenza (H5N1)
- Brucellosis
- Glanders
- Influenza A (H1N1), as identified in the study 1. This prioritization will help in formulating effective monitoring, prevention, and control strategies for zoonotic diseases in the regional settings, ultimately reducing morbidity, mortality, and improving quality of life.