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Why India's Top Health Expert Warns We Must Prepare for the Next Pandemic

India's top medical research official has issued a clear warning about future pandemics. Dr. Rajiv Bahl highlighted that most major outbreaks in the last century came from viruses spreading from animals to humans. He called for a stronger, unified "One Health" strategy that connects human, animal, and environmental health. This approach was the central theme of a major international virology conference that brought together hundreds of experts.

Key Points: Dr. Rajiv Bahl Calls for Robust One Health Approach for Pandemics

  • Dr. Bahl stressed the zoonotic origin of most past pandemics at the VIROCON 2025 conference
  • The event united over 650 experts from academia, industry, and public health
  • A key focus was bridging basic virology science with public health innovation
  • The conference featured extensive scientific sessions on developing future countermeasures
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Need robust One Health approach, effective preparedness to combat future pandemics: Dr. Rajiv Bahl

ICMR DG Dr. Rajiv Bahl emphasizes a coordinated One Health strategy and better countermeasures for future pandemic preparedness at VIROCON 2025.

"Most pandemics over the past 100 years have been viral and zoonotic in nature, underscoring the need for a coordinated one-health approach. - Dr. Rajiv Bahl"

New Delhi, Dec 17

India needs a robust One Health approach and effective measures to combat future pandemics, said Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICDR) & Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR).

He said this while speaking at VIROCON 2025, a three-day international conference organised recently by the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, in collaboration with the NIV Research Foundation and the Indian Virological Society (IVS).

The event, themed “Changing Landscapes in Human, Animal and Plant Viruses: Bridging Basic Science, Innovation and Public Health,” brought together experts to address emerging viral threats and innovations in virology.

“VIROCON is a very important meeting where I believe that academia, institutes of national importance, the National Institute of Virology, as well as industry, together deliberate on how to do surveillance and contribute to the development of countermeasures so that we are better prepared for any future outbreak or pandemic,” Bahl said.

“Most pandemics over the past 100 years have been viral and zoonotic in nature, underscoring the need for a coordinated one-health approach,” he added, while calling for the development of effective countermeasures for future pandemic preparedness.

VIROCON 2025 saw a strong commitment to advancing viral research, fostering collaboration, and strengthening public health preparedness.

The event focused on emerging viral threats, advances in virological research, and pandemic preparedness.

The conference saw the participation of over 650 delegates, including scientists, clinicians, public health experts, industry partners, and students from India and abroad.

Representatives from four countries -- the US, Canada, Thailand, and India-- attended the event, along with delegates from premier Indian institutions such as IISc, IISERs, IITs, Central Universities, ICAR, ICMR, DRDO, DBT, CSIR, and several State Universities.

Scientific sessions were held across three major tracks: One Health and pandemic preparedness, development of countermeasures, and fundamental virology, with 13 keynote lectures, 44 lead talks, 154 oral presentations, and 251 posters.

Prestigious recognitions, including the IVS Oration Awards 2025 and IVS Young Scientist Awards, were presented, along with VIROCON 2025 oral and poster awards.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see international collaboration, but I hope the focus remains on ground-level implementation in our villages and towns. Our primary health centres need to be part of this surveillance network. Talk is good, action is better.
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Aditya G
ज़ूनोटिक (zoonotic) diseases are a real threat with our close human-animal interactions. We need better monitoring at wet markets and farms. The conference sounds promising, but the real test is funding and political will.
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Sarah B
As someone who attended virtually, the quality of research presented was world-class. The emphasis on 'countermeasures' is key - we need Indian-made vaccines and diagnostics ready on the shelf, not developed during the crisis.
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Karthik V
Respectfully, while conferences are important, I hope the ICMR is also investing heavily in our public health infrastructure. Our labs in tier-2 cities need upgrade. Preparedness starts with strong basics, not just high-level meetings.
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Nisha Z
Including plant viruses in the theme is smart! Crop diseases can affect food security and economics, which indirectly impacts public health. Truly a holistic 'One Health' view. Hope the farmers' voices are also included in this framework.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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