PIB TrackerIndia runs 'Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas', a One Health drill for zoonotic outbreaks
A five-day national mock drill in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, simulated an H1N1 outbreak in animals with spillover risk to humans and wildlife — testing India's coordinated 'One Health' response from first alert to containment under the National One Health Mission.
What happened
- The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) conducted 'Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas' (PYA), the third national-level mock drill under the National One Health Mission, to test India's readiness for zoonotic disease outbreaks.
- The five-day exercise was held at Khari village, Vidisha District, Madhya Pradesh, from 29 June to 3 July 2026.
- The scenario simulated an outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) in animals carrying the potential for spillover to humans and wildlife.
- Built on the One Health approach, it brought together animal-health, human-health, wildlife, food-safety, laboratory and district-administration stakeholders.
- Participants tested the full response chain — surveillance, early warning, outbreak investigation and field epidemiology, sample collection and transport, laboratory diagnosis, risk assessment, incident management, biosecurity, containment, movement control and public communication.
For Prelims
- One Health: An integrated approach recognising that the health of humans, animals and the environment is interconnected; it guides coordinated action against zoonoses, food safety and antimicrobial resistance.
- Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses): Diseases that spread from animals to humans; a large share of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. Examples: rabies, avian influenza, Nipah, brucellosis and Kyasanur Forest Disease.
- National One Health Mission (NOHM): India's umbrella framework to coordinate pandemic preparedness and integrated disease surveillance across ministries, animal, human and wildlife sectors.
- Influenza A (H1N1): A subtype of the influenza A virus (the cause of the 2009 'swine flu' pandemic); influenza viruses can jump between species, making surveillance vital.
- DAHD: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying — the nodal department for livestock health.
- Biosecurity & movement control: Measures to prevent pathogen spread — quarantine, restricting animal movement, disinfection and safe disposal — central to outbreak containment.
- Don't confuse: A mock drill tests preparedness; it is not a real outbreak. One Health is a cross-sectoral approach, distinct from any single disease-control programme.
For UPSC: Use PYA as a live example of disaster/health-emergency preparedness through the One Health approach — linking animal, human and environmental health for pandemic readiness. Anchor the rising salience of zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance, the National One Health Mission, and India's disease-surveillance architecture (NCDC, integrated surveillance), and connect to lessons from COVID-19 on intersectoral coordination.
What it is NOT: This was a planned mock drill validating preparedness, not an actual disease outbreak; the H1N1 scenario was a simulation. One Health is a coordination approach across sectors, not a single vaccine or treatment programme.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS2.13 · GS3.15 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Health-security and disaster preparedness through the One Health approach — building coordinated capacity to detect and contain zoonotic outbreaks before they spread to humans.
Substantiation (data)
'Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas' — the third national One Health mock drill (Vidisha, MP, 29 June–3 July 2026) — simulated an H1N1 spillover and tested the chain from surveillance and field epidemiology to lab diagnosis, biosecurity and containment.
Exemplification
A concrete instance of intersectoral coordination — animal-health, human-health, wildlife, food-safety, labs and district administration acting together under the National One Health Mission.
Problematisation
Gaps in field-level veterinary and lab capacity, real-time surveillance and data-sharing, and human-resource shortages can weaken outbreak response despite drills.
Way-forward
Institutionalise regular drills, strengthen integrated surveillance and diagnostic networks, invest in veterinary public health, and mainstream One Health across ministries and states.
Position
Government stance: proactive One Health preparedness is essential to national health security and to preventing the next zoonotic pandemic.
Deploys into: Health security & pandemic preparedness (GS2.13 health, education & human resources) · disaster/emergency management for biological hazards (GS3.15 disaster management) · One Health, zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and integrated disease surveillance.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying · 2026-07-03 · PRID 2280871 · PIB source ↗