World Zoonoses Day observed in Sonitpur

Tezpur: The District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, Sonitpur, in collaboration with the Health Department, observed World Zoonoses Day 2025 at the office of the District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Officer in Hatipilkhana on Wednesday. 

To mark the occasion, a pre-exposure anti-rabies vaccination camp was held for field personnel, aimed at better preparing them to handle rabies cases safely. This was followed by a sensitisation program on zoonotic diseases. Dr. Kakali Basumatary, Block Veterinary Officer, Balipara, opened the session by outlining the objective of the program. She was followed by Dr. Abhilasha Sharma, District Nodal Officer for Rabies Control (AHVD), who gave a presentation highlighting the history and significance of zoonoses, the role of vaccinations, and how veterinary services ultimately contribute to human well-being—through food safety, livelihoods, and disease prevention-highlighting the interconnectedness of One Health. She also emphasised on the negligence of occupational hazards in the form of zoonotic diseases by field staff and urged the need for awareness and reporting of commonly neglected zoonotic diseases like rabies. Dr. Tilak Bhattacharya, District Surveillance Officer, spoke about the National Rabies Control Programme, the One Health concept, and the ongoing efforts to control diseases like rabies and leptospirosis. Dr. Subhalakshmi Borah, Epidemiologist (IDSP), shared insights on the formation of the district’s Rapid Response Team and the rising risk of disease spillovers in recent times. Chairing the event, Dr. Prasanta Kr. Roy (Dist. A. H. & Vety. Officer) underlined the importance of awareness of Veterinary Field Assistants in zoonoses control as front warriors and emphasised that the PrEP ARV camp was an attempt to prepare the "army" for rabies control on the field. He also announced that Sonitpur is being considered as a model district for rabies control, and called for continued collaboration with the health department to strengthen ongoing efforts.