VETERINARIAN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS

April 15, 2021

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VETERINARIAN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS

The COVID-19 pandemic has put considerable pressure on public health services across the globe over the past one year. So far, around 200 countries have reported human cases of COVID-19 and Lakhs of human deaths have occurred. Even if it is suggested that the virus causing COVID-19 (SARS-CoV- 2) emerged from an animal source, and some animals have become infected by people, the pandemic is being driven by human to human contact. No evidence, to date, has shown that animals are playing a significant role in spreading the disease.

The Animal Health Sector, and in particular, Veterinary Services, contribute in various ways towards building a common response to the pandemic. In many countries, veterinarians have shown their commitment to support the work of human health authorities. Veterinary laboratories have used their experience and expertise in high throughput testing capacity of infectious diseases to engage in activities such as surveillance screening, by testing human samples, thereby supporting the diagnostic capacity of human health services. Some veterinary clinics have been donating essential materials such as personal protective equipment and ventilators. Veterinary professionals have also been volunteering in hospitals and laboratories when human resources were not sufficient. In some countries, veterinary epidemiologists have been supporting their counterparts in the public health response to track the disease in humans and to support the development of effective public health interventions.

In conjunction with crisis management effort, it should not be forgotten, that on a daily basis, the activities of Veterinary Services contribute to addressing critical needs, which are heavily challenged in the current circumstances: food security and safety, as well as livelihoods are intrinsically linked to sound animal production systems. It is crucial that Veterinary Services continue to implement their multiple activities, which contribute to ensure a continuum in safe food provision for populations and to sustain their subsistence. The downstream effects of COVID-19 on economies, animal health, and food security remain as important as ever.

COVID and the veterinary services

Many countries have put in place very stringent measures, from travel bans to total country lock-downs, which now slowly start to be released. Luckily all countries in Europe recognize that veterinary services are to be considered essential businesses. Veterinarians and their teams provide important animal and public health disease surveillance to prevent disease outbreaks, including of zoonotic diseases. They ensure food security and that people have safe food to eat by ensuring only healthy animals and their products can enter the food supply. Veterinarians provide ongoing medical care and oversight as well as surgical and emergency services to ill and injured animals. The veterinary services also include the national and regional veterinary regulatory and inspection services, which oversee the integrity of public health. They also oversee veterinary services conducted in animal hospitals, mobile clinics, ambulatory services, zoos, etc. In addition, they oversee the care of laboratory animals, which are critical to research medicines and vaccines, including vaccine research against COVID-19.

Solidarity with colleagues and the medical profession

As veterinarians, we are a ‘One Health’ profession and unfortunately, have plenty of experience with the prevention and control of global outbreaks. Now more than ever, veterinarians are assisting in most countries our human medical colleagues. Several universities/practices already donated their masks and other protective materials to hospitals. In many countries the veterinary profession is/has inventoried key equipment such as respirators, for if needed for the medical sector. Veterinary institutes and laboratories are helping in many countries processing COVID tests. The animal health industry is producing medical devices and protective equipment. Many veterinarians are lead persons in COVID task forces in national countries and on a European level. Together, in a One Health way, we will be able to control COVID.

Veterinarians (Vets) being an integral and essential part of the global health, offer diverse roles not only related to the health and welfare of animals but prevention, management and control of zoonotic diseases as well. Their role in ensuring the healthy food and its safety in no way can be ignored. Veterinary care for food animals ensures their good health and thus, to food safety. This also supports agricultural livelihoods and the viability of our farms. All these roles would rather make the routine work of the Vets but the current COVID-19 crisis has unmasked their potential and utility beyond that too in an effective way.

Now as second COVID-19 wave has started, it is crucial to priorities the activities in the veterinary sector. It’s imperative for the veterinary regulatory bodies to oversee the integrity of animal and public health through veterinary services in order to ensure:

Animal health is not at stake and only healthy animals and their by- products enter the food supply to guarantee food safety for general
Preventive measures especially vaccination drives against diseases with significant public health or economic
Student’s vocational education and training (VET) and research activities doesn’t Further, priority research activities keep continuing.
Vets are effectively utilized through their specialization such as microbiologists/ biotechnologists for COVID-19 testing; extension workers for imparting knowledge to common

In nutshell, Vets are self-less scientific people who take care not only for dumb creatures but for the society as a whole.

NB-Best compliments from Dr.M.Koteshwar rao ,Karimnagar