Patna: Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) has been selected by the Central Government to strengthen the detection and surveillance of zoonotic diseases—infectious diseases that spread from animals to humans. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and PMCH signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday to establish advanced diagnostic and monitoring facilities at the hospital’s Microbiology Department.
Dr. Pratulya Nandan, Head of the Department of Microbiology at PMCH, said the initiative would significantly improve the identification, laboratory testing and surveillance of zoonotic diseases in Bihar. The enhanced facilities are expected to enable timely diagnosis, faster treatment and more effective prevention of disease outbreaks.
According to Dr. Nandan, more than 60% of infectious diseases affecting humans worldwide are zoonotic in nature. These infections can spread through the bite or scratch of an infected animal or through contact with its saliva, blood or other biological fluids.
With technical support from the NCDC, the Microbiology Department will develop modern laboratory infrastructure for the scientific testing of suspected cases. The project will also strengthen sample analysis, disease surveillance, data collection and early detection systems for zoonotic infections.
Meanwhile, the Microbiology Department also observed World Zoonoses Day on Monday by organising seminars, quizzes and awareness programmes. The event was chaired by PMCH Principal Dr. Geeta Sinha.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Nandan said World Zoonoses Day is observed every year on July 6 to commemorate the day when French scientist Louis Pasteur successfully administered the first rabies vaccine.
Common Zoonotic Diseases
Zoonotic diseases are infectious illnesses that spread from animals to humans. They are commonly transmitted through bites, scratches or contact with the saliva or bodily fluids of infected animals.
Some well-known zoonotic diseases include rabies, brucellosis, leptospirosis, scrub typhus and anthrax. Health experts estimate that more than 60% of all infectious diseases affecting humans fall under this category.
