Srinagar, Feb 27 (IANS): The J&K government is starting Animal Birth Control-Anti Rabies (ABC-AR) programme across the Union Territory to keep a check on the rising dog population, a senior official said on Thursday.

Principal Secretary, Animal, Sheep and Fisheries Department, Asgar Samoon made the announcement at a training event-cum-seminar on emerging diseases and role of veterinarians under centrally-sponsored scheme Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD).

During the seminar, papers were presented on the theme of emerging zoonotic disease and role of veterinarians and medicos.

Samoon stressed on the need for closer collaborations between veterinarians, physicians, and public health professionals in individual health, population health, and comparative medicine research.

He also cited the need for collaboration between physicians and veterinarians in comparative medicine that would help in improving understanding of zoonotic agent-host interactions.

He added that for surveillance system to be effective, reliable information on specific diseases must be readily available so that data can provide information for action.