India is taking a major step forward in pandemic preparedness with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) introducing AI-enabled pathogen surveillance under the National One Health Mission (NOHM). The new initiative focuses on early detection of emerging and novel pathogens to prevent outbreaks before they escalate.
The AI system will monitor a wide spectrum of health threats, including zoonotic, viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases. Viral infections like Zika, Nipah, and Coronavirus, bacterial infections such as anthrax and plague, and parasitic diseases like Kala Azar will all be tracked. By integrating data from humans, animals, and environmental sources, the tool aims to detect unusual clusters, assess environmental causes, and flag potential risks faster than traditional methods.
This predictive approach marks a shift from reactive response to proactive management, enabling health authorities to prepare interventions in advance and strengthen India’s public health infrastructure. By leveraging AI for early warning, India is positioning itself at the forefront of modern, technology-driven disease surveillance.
