OPINION: COVID-19 is a wake-up call to prepare India against bio-threats

The COVID-19 episode is a strong wake-up call for the nation to prepare a blueprint on bio-threat preparedness, response, mitigation and restoration. The nation has a rich biodiversity with two hotspots, one in the North East and other in the Western Ghats, having more than 45,000 species of plants—many of them having medicinal value. Bio-threats can arise from a natural outbreak transiting to an epidemic or pandemic, from an irresponsible nation venturing into bio-warfare on a large scale which is rather a remote possibility, or from an act of bioterrorism from a non-state actor. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued Standard Operating Procedure with valuable inputs from DRDO. A task force at National Security Council Secretariat may be constituted to address this dire need with the focus. The country would require at least five more such facilities to be established on priority for undertaking advance R&D endeavours to study pathogens, keep a repository of potential bio-threat agents and develop diagnostics and therapeutics. A large country like ours should strengthen the existing surveillance systems and mechanisms for identifying natural outbreaks. A reliable database of epidemiological studies on infectious diseases needs to be strengthened to discriminate between the natural outbreak or the onset of an epidemic. The Government of India needs to make a critical investment for the development of appropriate technologies and products, evolve suitable policies and ensure their practices at the grass-root level by networking with the state. He worked with DRDO for over 40 years, where he spearheaded the R&D program related to delivering CBRN defence technologies and products to the Armed Forces.