Trivandrum: The World Zoonoses Day was commemorated here at Kanakakunnu Palace, under the joint aegis of Indian Veterinary Association, Kerala State Veterinary Council, and the Dept. of Animal Husbandry. The programme was inaugurated by Hon. Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry K P Mohanan. Dr K R Arunkumar, President, IVA, presided over the function.

 Minister launching IVA website

Minister K P Mohanan remarked that it is the responsibility of the vets to inculcate the love of animals in people. He stressed on the need to improve the way we treat animals and to show more love and kindness to them and addressed the need to formulate strategies to protect stray dogs and implement ABC to contain their population.

Zoonosis refers to the disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa. World Zoonoses Day is observed on July 6 every year to emphasize and create awareness regarding zoonoses. The year 2011 has been declared as World Veterinary Year to emphasize the concept ‘Vet for health, Vet for food and Vet for planet’. It highlights the importance of the awareness on zoonotic diseases and the role of Veterinarians in the control and prevention of zoonotic diseases.

 Minister inaugurating the function

Seminars were organised to commemorate this day. Dr K Vijayakumar, Professor and Head, Dept. of Community Medicine, MCH, delivered a lecture on ’Prevention And Control Of  Zoonosis - Human Perspective.’ He stressed on the need to have better surveillance methods and called for an inter sectoral coordination-medical, veterinary, population biology and IT- to facilitate the detection of potentially linked animal and public health events. He added that in future, the number of pets will increase and so awareness need to be built regarding the zoonoses and suitable measures be implemented to keep a tab on such health issues.