First institute for zoonotic diseases to come up in Salem

The institute will focus on developing an advanced lab for zoonotic infections to diagnose new virus strains.

“AIIRLAS proposed at Thalaivasal will be a premier institute to deal with zoonotic infections. The key department will be the advanced lab for virology,” said former vice chancellor of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University R Prabhakaran, who is also the officer on special duty to establish the AIIRLAS.

The State has in principle agreed to spend Rs 40 crore on research, of which Rs 30 crore will be used to establish the advanced lab. “The complex zoonosis infections are highly virulent in humans and the role of veterinary science is very crucial. It can help medical practitioners tackle 60 percent of zoonotic communicable diseases. Be it animal or human, the virus is same. Also, microbiologists and virologists with veterinary background can track the origin of virus and help in diagnosis,” Prabhakaran explained. In-depth study of infections in animals will help curtail majority of zoonotic infections, said professor in veterinary science Dr S Prathapan, who retired as the director of clinics at Madras Veterinary College. It is an area which has not had adequate focus in the past. “The need is to synergise both veterinary science and medical science. The one-world-one-health concept promoted by the international community is picking up and this will help tame 90 percent of all viral and bacterial infections,” Prathapan said.

He added that tracking the virus sequence and its virulence on different species is the key and a veterinarian has an advantage when it comes to diagnosing zoonosis at an early stage, he said.