Capacity building in biorisk management and field epidemiology: Proceedings of a biosafety and outbreak simulation training programme

Authors

Muralidharan Menon Arjun, Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Jain Vij Shruti, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, New Delhi, India
Panaparambil Azis Suhana, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, New Delhi, IndiaFollow
Gopinathan Pillai Sreekanth, Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, IndiaFollow
Sudheesh N, Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Anup Jayaram, Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
Prasad Varamballi, Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
K. C. Muraleedharan, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, New Delhi, India
Sunil S. Ramteke, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, New Delhi, India
Subhash Kaushik, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, New Delhi, India
Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay, Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India

Author ORCID Identifier(s)

Muralidharan Menon Arjun: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6121-3311

Jain Vij Shruti: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9098-6136

Panaparambil Azis Suhana: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6809-9364

Gopinathan Pillai Sreekanth: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0278-8642

Sudheesh N: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3540-2865

Anup Jayaram: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4557-0555

Prasad Varamballi: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0384-1078

K. C. Muraleedharan: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6762-7006

Sunil S. Ramteke: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3275-885X

Subhash Kaushik: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2851-1377

Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0402-1143

Corresponding Author

Panaparambil Azis Suhana , Gopinathan Pillai Sreekanth

Keywords

Biosafety, Epidemiology, Homoeopathy, Outbreak, Public Health

Article Type

Conference Report

Abstract

The Biosafety and Outbreak Simulation Training 2025, held from 6–10 October 2025 at Manipal, Karnataka, India, brought together thirty homoeopathic doctors from 14 states to strengthen national preparedness for infectious disease threats. Organised by the Manipal Institute of Virology (MIV) under Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) in collaboration with the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), the workshop integrated theoretical sessions, hands-on training on sample transportation, and a comprehensive outbreak simulation exercise. Core modules spanned biorisk management, biosafety and biosecurity, biomedical waste management, incident response, epidemiological investigation, and sample transport in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations. A highlight of the workshop was the immersive ``Sirsi Fevers'' outbreak simulation, in which participants applied epidemiological methods, community engagement skills, and logistical planning to address a complex, resource-limited field scenario. Expert clinicians, public health specialists, and laboratory scientists provided multi-disciplinary perspectives drawn from real-world outbreak responses, including influenza, Nipah virus, cholera, melioidosis, and COVID-19. The workshop concluded with participant presentations, reinforcing applied understanding of the outbreak investigation process. Collectively, the program significantly enhanced participants' competencies in biosafety, outbreak detection, laboratory readiness, and public health response, establishing a model for continued CCRH-MAHE collaboration.

Digital Object Identifier

10.53945/2320-7094.2792

Publisher

Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

How to cite this article

Arjun MM, Shruti JV, Suhana PA, et al. Capacity building in biorisk management and field epidemiology: Proceedings of a biosafety and outbreak simulation training programme. Indian J Res Homoeopathy. 2026;20(1):114–35.