NEW DELHI, April 5 -- India has launched an inter-ministerial scientific study to detect zoonotic diseases at select bird sanctuaries and wetlands across the country, the Union ministry of health and family welfare announced on Friday.
The initiative aims to monitor the health of both human populations and migratory bird species, as well as the environments in which they coexist, marking a significant shift from reactive responses to proactive preparedness against potential disease outbreaks.
The study is "aimed at detecting zoonotic diseases that could spill over from birds to humans, focusing on the critical intersection of human, bird, and forest health," the ministry statement read. The announcement comes shortly after the first avian...