Public health and zoonoses

Any infectious disease that may be transmitted from animals to humans is called Zoonosis. In the absence of reform in sanitation and water supply, the communicable diseases affect millions of people, especially the poor in rural India. Most of Indian livestock is reared in close human proximity where they form an important component of the life system of rural people. Cows, buffaloes, bullocks, mule and donkeys are not just utility animals, but also companion at work for the toiling poor who rear them along side their own dwellings. Animal sheds are hygienically ill maintained than the dwelling units. This type of situation is a potential threat for the emergence of new infectious diseases in man originating from animals. More so, when India has over five million immuno-compromised HIV cases and majority of livestock farming labor is provided by malnourished immuno-strained womenfolk.