Zoonotic diseases: Vets, docs need to work together

ISLAMABAD: Zoonotic diseases are important health concerns and control requires collaboration between Pakistan's veterinary and human health sectors.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) jointly held a workshop on Zoonotic diseases, which are the animal diseases that can spread to humans, such as Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, rabies, brucellosis and avian influenza.

According to US Embassy, the workshop brought decision makers and scientists together to agree on a list of priority Zoonotic - an animal disease that can be transmitted to humans.

In addition to strengthening the federal, provincial departments and animal and human health cross-sectoral collaboration, the workshop resulted into a plan for future disease control efforts.  Dr Stephanie Salyer, a veterinary epidemiologist with the CDC, Dr Kate Varela, a veterinary medical officer-ORISE Research Participant within the One Health Office at CDC and Grace Goryoka, a health scientist at CDC, conducted the workshop.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2017.