$25-mn pandemic fund fights ‘zoonotic’ diseases

• The Centre has initiated a $25-million G-20 pandemic fund project to enhance animal health in India.
• The project aims to improve preparedness and response to pandemics by upgrading and expanding animal health laboratories and developing laboratory networks.
• The project is in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• The fund will be used by August 2026 and will support existing initiatives through disease surveillance, laboratory infrastructure development, and cross-border collaboration.
• The initiative aims to build a resilient framework to safeguard the country and reduce the risk of emerging infections.
• The fund will also be used to upgrade data management systems and enhance analytics capabilities for better risk assessment and communication strategies.