Srinagar | : The Division of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology at SKUAST-Kashmir on Saturday organized a series of awareness events under the Holistic Agriculture Development Program, culminating on World Zoonoses Day-2025.
The initiative aimed to educate students, the public, and stakeholders about the importance of preventing zoonotic diseases, which are transmitted between animals and humans. The program began with essay and quiz competitions for veterinary students on July 3, 2025, promoting engagement and knowledge regarding zoonotic threats. An impactful One-Day Symposium cum Panel Discussion was held on July 9, 2025, themed “Tackling Zoonoses Together in J&K.” This event served as an interdisciplinary platform, uniting experts from various sectors, including medical, veterinary, food, fisheries, and environmental fields. Notable participants included representatives from GMC Srinagar, GMC Anantnag, SKIMS Soura, and the Sheep & Animal Husbandry Department. Key speakers emphasized the necessity of collaborative efforts to address zoonotic challenges, with Prof. Haroon R. Naik highlighting the urgency of coordinated action, given that over 60% of infectious diseases and 75% of emerging pathogens are zoonotic. The symposium featured a panel discussion on “From Bite to Breakthrough: Collaborative Rabies Control in J&K,” advocating for enhanced intersectoral collaboration and public awareness as essential strategies for effective rabies control. The event concluded with a school outreach session on July 17, 2025, at Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Ganderbal, where students were encouraged to become ambassadors of information within their communities. Overall, the series of events underscored the critical need for collaborative efforts and widespread awareness to prevent and control zoonotic diseases in Jammu & Kashmir.
