Restoration of Tasik Chini
May 11, 2022Strengthening of Environmental Governance (SEG) in Malaysia
May 11, 2022Evidence suggests that COVID-19 is a zoonosis, an infectious disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. This illness appears to be one of the worst zoonotic diseases we have faced in the 21st century. It is crucial and timely for Malaysia to fortify its resilience against zoonoses. We need a proactive approach that integrates different models of disease management into one framework to prepare for impending outbreaks and future pandemics.
ASM SIG on Zoonosis chaired by Professor Dato’ Dr Mohd Hair Bejo FASc has prepared a Position Paper that addressed zoonoses issues and provide strategic recommendations to ensure Malaysia’s resilience against zoonotic diseases.
Currently, Malaysia does not have an overarching policy on zoonosis and a consolidated legal framework that provides a concerted direction for the many initiatives. Existing collaborations that target zoonotic disease management should be aligned for a well-coordinated and effective management of impending outbreaks. Moving forward, Malaysia needs to focus on being resilient and agile through the adoption of effective, integrated control measures and prevention strategies to face different kinds of pandemics in the future.
As such, the 8i ecosystem model was used to analyse the issues and gaps in Malaysia’s zoonoses landscape. The interplay of S&T drivers with medical and healthcare as well as environment and biodiversity socioeconomic drivers as outlined in the 10-10 MySTIE Framework will lead to new technology-based, innovative solutions to realise a dynamic and agile ecosystem toward increasing Malaysia’s resilience and agility.
The recommendations are comprehensive and well-coordinated actions to tackle the root causes of zoonoses. Vaccine development, genome banking as well as data sharing platforms were recommended to ensure integrated and synergistic strategies. Comprehensive data arising from integrated, real-time surveillance and monitoring should enable valuable analytics and foresighting toward preventing zoonoses.
Strategic Recommendations from the study:
Ecosystem and Governance
- Strengthen ecosystem and governance
- Enhance the robustness of laws, policies and regulations pertaining to zoonoses
- Revise the Pandemic Preparedness Plan
Research and Development
- Form an inventory of studies in Malaysia concerning zoonoses
- Cluster experts from zoonotic field according to focus areas
- Create a platform for information and data sharing
- Utilise Open Science approach to enhance data sharing and research
- Enhance vaccine development
- Incorporate zoonoses in research and development through STI
Environmental Factors
- Improve surveillance to identify wildlife illegal trading or poaching hotspots for better enforcement
- Develope a national level database for environmental genomic and metagenomic data
Capacity and Capability Development
- Develope capacity through multi-faceted processes for a sustainable and transformative workforce
- Increase the capacity of veterinary related programmes
- Increase workforce positions as well as improving infrastructures and equipment
- Strengthen partnerships amongst academic institutions, government, and non-government organisations
- Inculcate wildlife disease knowledge at all levels
Biosafety and Biosecurity Management
- Safeguard the storage, transfer, and handling of pathogens
- Establish a system to manage biosafety and biosecurity risks
- Adopt a top-down approach on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity risk management