India Conducts First National Pandemic Preparedness Mock Drill “Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas”

Ajmer, Rajasthan: Under the framework of the National One Health Mission (NOHM), a nationwide mock drill, “Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas” (Virus War Exercise), was conducted from August 27 to August 31, 2024, in Ajmer district, Rajasthan. The exercise aimed to assess India’s pandemic preparedness and the coordinated response of the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT), which includes experts from human health, animal husbandry, and wildlife sectors. The mock drill simulated a zoonotic disease outbreak to evaluate real-world readiness.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister,J.P. Nadda, praised the exercise as a pioneering initiative, emphasizing the importance of the One Health Mission in addressing human, animal, and environmental health in a holistic and sustainable way. He noted that such collaborations are crucial for combating emerging health threats.

Key stakeholders involved in the exercise included the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Rajasthan State Administration, and the AIIMS Jodhpur BSL-3 Lab, among others. The drill also engaged district administration, veterinary officers, and healthcare workers from the Community Health Centre in Ajmer.

The mock drill focused on two main components: the identification of the virus responsible for the outbreak and response actions to control the spread of disease across human and animal populations. Independent observers closely monitored the teams’ actions, and while the response was largely prompt and effective, the drill also highlighted areas for improvement.

“Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas” provided critical insights that will shape future strategies to improve India’s preparedness for zoonotic disease outbreaks. The exercise fostered a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach to health challenges, ensuring better coordination across human, animal, and environmental health sectors in the future.