New Delhi, Feb. 8 -- Facing a surge in zoonotic threats, India is set to use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect emerging pathogens that jump from animals to humans, according to officials and documents reviewed by Mint.

The initiative, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the National One Health Mission (NOHM), marks a shift from reactive reporting to predictive surveillance. The project will target a broad spectrum of threats, including Nipah virus, Zika, Avian Influenza (H5N1), and Kyasanur Forest Disease (monkey fever), among others.

In 2025, India reported 41 bird flu outbreaks across 10 states, including Maharashtra and Odisha, primarily affecting poultry, wild birds, and mammals like tigers. Crucially, th...