Parliament Question: Zoonotic Disease

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH RESEARCH LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2269 TOBE ANSWERED ON01STAUGUST, 2025 ZOONOTIC DISEASE 2269.SHRIKALYANBANERJEE Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government proposes toset upVirus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) under Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR- NIV) inthe countryandif so, the details thereof,district-wise; (b) the details of VRDLworking at present in the country, State/UT-wise anddistrict-wise alongwith the proposal toset upnewlaboratories therefor; (c) whether it isa fact that the number of known Viral Specieshas risen from 213 in 1971 toover15,000in2023 inthe countryandif so,the detailsthereof; (d) the details of the achievement of the Government in fighting emerging pathogens such as NIPAH Virus, Monkeypox, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, West Nile Virus and H5N1 inthe country; and (e) the details of the action taken by the Government and coordinate result oriented Research for RecurringCollaboration betweenMedical,Veterinary andEnvironmentalsectors tofight against the Zoonotic Disease inthe country? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) and (b): Under the Department of Health Research (DHR) scheme ‘Establishment of a network of Laboratories for managing epidemics and Natural Calamities’, a total of 165 Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) have beensanctioned across the country. The StateandUnion Territory (UT)-wise list of these VRDLs isenclosed at Annexure. Under the 15th Finance Commission period ending on 31.03.2026, a target of establishing 42 newVRDLs was set, which hassince beensuccessfully achieved. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that the National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune has been designated as the Resource Centre for the Viral Research Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL), Network). As the Resource Centre, ICMR-NIV, Puneplaysa pivotalrole insupporting andstrengthening the VRDLs across the country.Apart from the above, under Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) four zonal centres of National Institutes of Virology (NIV) at Dibrugarh, Jabalpur, Jammu andBengaluruhave beenapprovedfor ICMR. (c): ICMR has further informed that according to the 2024 report of International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), a total of 16,215 viral species have been identified,categorized into368 viral families. (d): The details of the achievement of the Government infighting emerging pathogens, are givenbelow i. Nipah Virus: ICMR-NIV Pune has made significant advances in combating Nipah virus. NIV has established robust surveillance systems and conducted widespread bat surveys across 14 states and 2 union territories to identify hotspots. The institute pioneered diagnostic innovations including a pioneering Point-of-Care assay and commercialized assaykits.Itsresearch includesvirological,antibodyandimmunologicalresponseprofiling, multi-epitope vaccine design, and seroprevalence studies, supporting the state in outbreak containmentresponses, deployment of mobile BSL-3laboratory for Nipah outbreakon-site diagnosis. ii. Influenza (H5N1) virus: The ICMR-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) is a WHO recognized National Influenza Centre (NIC) and an H5N1 Reference Laboratory for South East Asian countries. The ICMR-NIV has investigated several outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in poultry, wild and migratory birds India. The H5N1 viruses were isolated and characterized. Phylogeography and gene pool analysis of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses reported in India showed separate introductions from South-East Asian countries. H5N1 virus was isolated from environmental samples, dead birds and human cases, which belonged to clades 2.3.4.4b and 2.3.2.1a respectively. Full genome sequencing revealed markers associated with high pathogenicity and mammalian adaptation. It was showed that there was no human- to-human infections during these outbreaks. The study generated first reports of human cases of H5N1 virus from India. Thus, the ICMR-NIV has played a crucial role in investigations, prevention and control of outbreaksof H5N1 viruses inIndia. iii.Mpox Virus: ICMR-NIV Pune played a central role in developing and updating national guidelines for mpox diagnosis, sample collection, and management. The institute successfully isolated and characterized the mpox virus [Clade IIb and Clade Ib], enabling critical research and development of diagnostic real time PCR assay and indigenous IgM and IgG ELISA. It developed and validated a rapid, affordable LAMP assay for mpox detection, achieving results comparable to gold standard RT-PCR. NIV Pune acted as the nodal center for mpox diagnosis in India, coordinating a national network of 34 labs across India, sharing reagents, and capacity building for RT-PCR testing. The institute’s genomic analysis established the presence of the Clade IIb A.2 strain and Clade Ib in India, crucial for public health strategies. Acting as the country’s primary mpox diagnosis hub, NIV coordinated for commercial kit validation and development of neutralization assays for mpox. iv.Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) Virus: ICMR-NIV, Pune has been pivotal in advancingCCHF research, diagnosis,andoutbreakmanagement inIndia since 2011. It first confirmed CCHF cases during the 2011 Ahmedabad nosocomial outbreak and investigated further outbreaks inGujarat andRajasthan. The institute established India’s first BSL-4lab in2012,enabling safe handling andrapidindigenousdevelopment of serological assays for humans and livestock, enhancing surveillance and replacing reliance on imported reagents. NIV led extensive serosurveys across 22 states and 1 union territory, detecting CCHFcirculationin vectorsandanimals. It played a majorrole instudying seroprevalence among high-risk groups and coordinated national multisite viral hemorrhagic fever surveillance. NIV also investigated imported CCHF cases, facilitating timely containment. The molecular and immunological studies by NIV helped elucidate viral persistence, antibody response, and cytokine profiles, informing nationwide clinical management guidelines updatedin2019. v. West Nile virus: In India, it was first identified in Kerala in 2011, with confirmation through laboratory isolation by the NIV Kerala Unit. Following the outbreak, the unit conducted systematic follow-up of affected patients to assess long-term health outcomes. To strengthen early detection and timely response, West Nile Virus was incorporated into the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) surveillance programme, enabling continuous monitoringandguidingpublic healthinterventions. (e): With the objective of integrated research across human health, animal, plants and environment following a ‘One Health’ approach, a Program for strengthening Research and Development towards integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness for the National One HealthMission (NOHM) hasbeeninitiatedbyDepartment of HealthResearch (DHR). National One Health Mission’ (NOHM) as a collaborative effort brings multiple Ministries/Departments together for integrated disease prevention, control and pandemic preparedness system for the country. The key participants include Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change (MoEFCC), Ministry of AYUSH, Department of Health Research (DHR), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and office of Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India. The components of DHR scheme include frameworks for integrated disease surveillance across sectors, targeted R&D for fast-tracking medical counter measures, data integration, capacity building and to foster global linkages for pandemic preparedness. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has informed that it supports the States/UTs through the implementation of Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) Scheme, with the aim of reducing risk to animal health. The Department has also undertaken a series of measures to strengthen surveillance and ensure the prevention and control of Avian Influenza caused byH5N1, asoutlinedbelow: The National Action Plan for Prevention, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza (Revised 2021) has been formulated by DAHD, which provides comprehensive guidelines for preparedness, identification and notification of affected areas, culling operations, movement restrictions, implementation of biosecurity measures, active surveillance in poultry farms, backyard poultry, live bird markets (LBMs), and migratory bird habitats, along with post- operationsurveillance protocols. Under the National One Health Mission, a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) comprising representatives from the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, National Centre for Disease Control, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Indian Council of Agriculture Research has been constituted. NJORT has often been deployed to investigateoutbreaks in different parts of the country for coordinated field investigations and support for control andcontainment operations. *****Annexure State/UT-wise andDistrict-wise Detailsof VRDLs inthe Country Sr. State/UT No of Name of District No. VRDLs 1 Andaman & Nicobar 2 SouthAndaman Island 2 Andhra Pradesh 9 Chittoor, Krishna, Anantapur, YSR, East Godavari, Guntur, Vishakhapatnam, Kurnool 3 Arunachal Pradesh 1 Papumpare 4 Assam 10 Dibrugarh, Kamrup Metro, Cachar, Jorhat, Sonitpur, Barpeta, Karbi Anglong, Lakhimpur, Nagaon 5 Bihar 6 Patna, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur 6 Chandigarh 2 Chandigarh 7 Chhattisgarh 6 Bastar, Raipur,Bilaspur, Kanker, Durg 8 Delhi 7 South Delhi, Central Delhi, East Delhi, New Delhi, SouthWest Delhi, North Delhi 9 Goa 1 North Goa 10 Gujarat 7 Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Surat, Bhavnagar, Rajkot,Vadodara 11 Haryana 3 Rohtak,Sonipat, Karnal 12 HimachalPradesh 5 Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Chamba,Bilaspur 13 Jammu andKashmir 5 Srinagar, Jammu, Baramulla,Anantnag 14 Jharkhand 3 Ranchi,East Singhbum, Deogarh 15 Karnataka 10 Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru, Ballari, Hassan, Shivamogga, Dharwad, Kalaburagi,Belagavi, Kodagu, 16 Kerala 8 Kozhikode, Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kannur, Malapuram, Ernakulam 17 Madhya Pradesh 7 Bhopal, Sagar, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Rewa, Ratlam 18 Maharashtra 11 Nagpur, Sangli, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Solapur, Dhule, Akola, Pune 19 Manipur 2 Imphal East20 Meghalaya 1 East Khasi Hills 21 Mizoram 1 Aizawl 22 Odisha 6 Khordha, Sambalpur, Ganjam, Cuttack, Koraput 23 Puducherry 2 Puducherry 24 Punjab 5 Amritsar, Faridkot, Patiala, Bathinda, S.A.SNagar 25 Rajasthan 8 Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jhalawar, Kota 26 Tamil Nadu 10 Madurai, Theni, Salem, Thiruvarur, Villupuram, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Chennai,Thiruvallur 27 Tripura 1 West Tripura 28 Telangana 4 Hyderabad,Warangal 29 Uttar Pradesh 9 Lucknow, Aligarh, Etawah, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Rae Bareli, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Meerut 30 Uttarakhand 3 Nainital,Dehradun 31 West Bengal 10 Kolkata, Murshidabad, Medinipur West, Darjeeling, Maldah, Bardhaman, 24 ParaganasSouth, Nadia *****