Introduction

One Health is an interdisciplinary approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. This concept emphasizes collaborative efforts across multiple sectors to achieve optimal health outcomes, acknowledging that the health of people is closely linked to the health of animals and the environment. The One Health framework has gained global prominence in addressing emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and ecosystem health.

Historical Context

The roots of One Health trace back to the 19th century, with early observations by Rudolf Virchow, who coined the term “zoonosis” and highlighted the overlap between animal and human medicine. The 20th century saw increased awareness of zoonotic diseases, such as influenza and rabies, prompting collaborative efforts between veterinarians and physicians. In the early 2000s, outbreaks like SARS, H5N1 avian influenza, and Ebola underscored the need for a unified approach. The term “One Health” was formally adopted by the Wildlife Conservation Society in 2004 and subsequently endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The COVID-19 pandemic further solidified the necessity of One Health strategies for global preparedness and response.

Main Concepts

1. Interconnected Health Domains

  • Human Health: Focuses on preventing and managing diseases in populations, including emerging infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, and mental health.
  • Animal Health: Encompasses livestock, companion animals, and wildlife, addressing zoonoses, food security, and animal welfare.
  • Environmental Health: Involves ecosystem integrity, biodiversity, and the impact of pollution, climate change, and habitat loss on disease dynamics.

2. Zoonotic Diseases

  • Over 60% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, originating in animals and transmitted to humans.
  • Examples include Ebola, HIV, avian influenza, and coronaviruses (SARS, MERS, COVID-19).
  • Drivers of zoonoses: habitat encroachment, wildlife trade, intensive agriculture, and globalization.

3. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

  • AMR arises from the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans, animals, and agriculture.
  • Resistant pathogens can transfer between sectors via direct contact, food chains, and the environment.
  • One Health strategies promote stewardship, surveillance, and integrated policy-making to combat AMR.

4. Food Safety and Security

  • Safe food production depends on healthy animals and environments.
  • One Health addresses risks from foodborne pathogens, chemical contaminants, and supply chain vulnerabilities.
  • Collaborative monitoring and regulation reduce outbreaks and ensure nutritional security.

5. Environmental Change and Disease Emergence

  • Deforestation, urbanization, and climate change alter habitats and vector distributions, increasing disease risk.
  • Biodiversity loss can disrupt natural disease regulation, facilitating pathogen spillover.
  • Environmental monitoring is essential for early warning and prevention.

6. Policy and Governance

  • Effective One Health implementation requires cross-sectoral governance, data sharing, and joint risk assessment.
  • International frameworks, such as the Tripartite Collaboration (WHO, FAO, WOAH), guide coordinated responses.
  • National One Health platforms facilitate stakeholder engagement and policy integration.

7. Education and Capacity Building

  • Multidisciplinary training equips professionals to address complex health challenges.
  • Curricula in medicine, veterinary science, public health, and environmental science increasingly incorporate One Health principles.

Common Misconceptions

  • One Health is only about zoonotic diseases: While zoonoses are a major focus, One Health also addresses AMR, food safety, environmental toxins, and chronic diseases influenced by ecological factors.
  • One Health is a new concept: The principles have a long history, but formal recognition and integration are recent.
  • One Health is only relevant in low-income countries: Disease emergence and environmental challenges are global issues affecting all regions.
  • One Health is limited to public health professionals: It requires collaboration among medical, veterinary, ecological, agricultural, and social science experts.

Recent Research Example

A 2021 study published in Nature Communications (Zhou et al., 2021) demonstrated how land-use change and biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia increased the risk of bat-borne coronavirus spillover into human populations. The research highlighted the need for integrated surveillance and habitat conservation as part of One Health strategies to prevent future pandemics (Zhou et al., 2021).

Glossary

  • Zoonosis: A disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
  • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): The ability of microorganisms to withstand the effects of medications previously effective against them.
  • Vector: An organism, often an arthropod, that transmits pathogens between hosts.
  • Spillover: The transmission of a pathogen from its natural animal reservoir to humans.
  • Tripartite Collaboration: The partnership between WHO, FAO, and WOAH for coordinated health action.
  • Biodiversity: The variety of living species within a particular habitat or ecosystem.
  • Surveillance: Systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data for planning and response.

Conclusion

One Health is an essential paradigm for addressing complex health challenges at the human-animal-environment interface. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, integrated surveillance, and holistic policy-making, One Health enhances global capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging threats. The approach is vital for managing zoonotic diseases, combating antimicrobial resistance, ensuring food safety, and sustaining ecosystem health. As demonstrated by recent pandemics and environmental crises, the One Health framework is indispensable for safeguarding global health in an interconnected world.


Reference:
Zhou, P., et al. (2021). “Land-use change increases the risk of bat-borne coronavirus emergence.” Nature Communications, 12, 6724. Link