General perspectives for management of animal facilities during pandemics or similar crisis: A review Hirkani H.1, Korlekar P.N.1, Kohale K.N.2,* 1Vivekanand Education Society's College of Pharmacy, Chembur-400 074, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 2Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Colaba-400 005, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India *Corresponding Author: K.N. Kohale, Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Colaba-400 005, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Email: kalidas@tifr.res.in
Online Published on 3 January, 2024. Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought to light a glaring issue faced by the research laboratories housing and experimenting on animals. As humans become more empathetic towards the welfare of animals, regulatory and ethical considerations surrounding the experimentation carried out on them has now become a major responsibility of these organizations and facilities. They need to ensure that animal wellbeing is not compromised at any time. To warrant this, especially in epidemics, a contingency plan needs to be put in place. In government organizations, the authorities from the top to the individual personnel working at the various facilities need to work hand-in-hand to allow these plans to be executed well. The plans, tediously put together, include risk assessment, mitigation of the risk as well as recovering from the adversity. Emphasizing on the underlying responsibilities of the government, the institutions and the facilities, which include various approvals, online meetings, transport of essentials goods, personnel trainings, stocking up essentials, etc. is essential. The disaster management plan for epidemics that provides guidelines on how to cope up with the situation during crisis, recuperate and restart the routine activities once things resume as per normal would be highly useful. This would secure animal care, welfare as well as the interests of the researchers working on these animals. This review article aims to describe a disaster management plan for handling similar situation if arise in future. Top Keywords Animal ethics, Animal welfare, COVID-19, Crisis, Pandemic. Top |