TIMERGARA:  Speakers at a workshop on Thursday called for raising awareness of zoonotic diseases, which were transmitted from animals to human beings.

The training was arranged for local media persons by the Relief International under the Livestock for Life (LFL) project at Timergara press club. Project manager Abdullah said the campaign had been launched in Lower Dir, Chitral, Mardan, Peshawar and Swabi districts. He said that zoonotic diseases, their symptoms, control and plan for awareness campaign were being discussed in the three-day workshop, which would end on Friday (today).

Resource person Dr Mohammad Saleem said that rabies, Congo fever, dengue and TB etc were the most common zoonotic diseases. He said that about 55,000 people died of rabies every year, mainly in Asia and Africa where pet animals were not properly managed.

“Nearly 2.5 billion people are at risk from dengue fever throughout the world,” he said, adding that the safety situation could be improved through environmental management, proper solid waste disposal etc. He said that media could play an effective role in raising awareness of such diseases among people.

The speakers also asked farmers to take appropriate hygienic measures for rearing their livestock to prevent the spread of diseases.

District livestock officer Dr Khalil urged local journalists to inform local communities about zoonotic diseases. Safety measures against diseases like bird flu, dengue fever, Congo fever, tuberculosis, rabies and tetanus were also discussed in the workshop.

Dr Hazrat Nabi said that communicable diseases were the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Pakistan due to overcrowded cities, unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, poor socioeconomic condition, low health awareness and inadequate vaccination.