Updated National Action Plan on Glanders 2025

Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) has initiated the Revised National Action Plan on Glanders 2025 with emphasis on better surveillance, prevention, control and elimination of the disease in equines. The scheme reinforces India's animal health security and supplements the One Health framework.

About Glanders

• Caused by Burkholderia mallei.
• Infects horses, mules and donkeys ; zoonotic risk to humans
• Transmission by direct contact or contaminated feed/water
• Highly mortality if left untreated; reportable under PCICDA Act, 2009.
• Still reported in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Highlights of the Revised Plan

• Zoning: Infected area radius reduced to 2 km (from 5 km); surveillance area determined for 2-10 km (from 5-25 km). Limitations are used only in a 10 km radius.
• Enhanced Surveillance: Required testing in high-risk and normal conditions, laboratory based diagnostics and frequent areas/survey for early detection.
• Quarantine & Movement Control: Rigid certification of equine movement for fairs, yatras and interstate transport.
• Rapid Response: SOPs covering immediate isolation, humane treatment and liaison with State departments
• Capacity Building: Training for vets, para-vets and field staff in areas of recognition, biosafety and reporting.
• Awareness: Action and preventive programs for the horse owners, the breeders and the communities in order to ensure the cooperation in a disease control.
• Research Support - Collaboration with ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) , Hisar for diagnostics and epidemiological research

Impact

The revised plan provides specificity for containment, limits the degree of disturbance, and increases India's ability to prepare for glanders. By integrating surveillance, rapid response, research, and community engagement, the initiative is a significant step toward disease control and One Health application .