What is the One Health approach?

Summary

The One Health approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. As human activities disrupt ecosystems, the risk of emerging infectious diseases increases. Over 60% of such diseases originate from animals, with many linked to human practices like intensive farming and wildlife trade. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for global collaboration across sectors to manage these risks. A key example is Italy’s National Prevention and Surveillance Plan for Arboviral Diseases, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health. Global organizations like WHO and FAO promote joint efforts to combat epidemics and ensure sustainable development.

Takeaways

• 😀 The health of humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems are deeply interconnected.
• 😀 Changes in the relationships between humans, animals, and ecosystems can increase the risk of new diseases.
• 😀 The One Health approach aims to balance and optimize the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems in an integrated way.
• 😀 Around 60% of emerging infectious diseases globally originate from animals.
• 😀 Over 30 new human pathogens have been reported in the last 30 years, with 75% coming from animal reservoirs.
• 😀 Diseases like Ebola, AIDS, avian influenza, and COVID-19 result from human impacts on natural ecosystems.
• 😀 Human activities such as intensive farming, wildlife trade, and land use change amplify disease risks and promote the spread of pathogens.
• 😀 The spread of vector-borne diseases can be facilitated by the movement of people and goods.
• 😀 Ecosystem stressors like biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change increase health risks to humans.
• 😀 The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for global collaboration across sectors to manage health threats.
• 😀 The Italian National Prevention and Surveillance Plan for Arboviral Diseases is a successful example of a One Health approach, integrating efforts between human and veterinary medicine.
• 😀 International organizations (WHO, FAO, WOAH, UNEP) work together to strengthen global defense against epidemics using an integrated approach.

Q & A

What is the main concept behind the One Health approach?

The One Health approach is an integrated, unifying strategy that aims to balance and optimize the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems sustainably.

How are the health of humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems interconnected?

Changes in the relationships among humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems can increase the risk of emerging diseases, as they influence each other’s health and create conditions for diseases to spread.

What percentage of emerging infectious diseases originate from animals, according to the WHO?

According to the WHO, approximately 60% of emerging infectious diseases reported globally originate from animals.

How does human activity contribute to the spread of diseases?

Human activities, such as intensive farming, wildlife trade, and the movement of people and goods, can amplify disease spread, making it easier for pathogens to cross from animals to humans (spillover) and travel across regions.

Can you provide examples of diseases that are linked to human activity and ecosystems?

Diseases like Ebola, AIDS, avian influenza, and COVID-19 are examples of diseases that are not random but are linked to the impact of human activity on ecosystems.

What role does ecosystem stress play in human health?

Ecosystem stress, often caused by human activities such as land use changes, loss of biodiversity, and pollution, increases the likelihood of health risks for humans by altering the natural balance.

What are some of the factors influencing ecosystems that can lead to health risks?

Factors such as land use, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, and climate change can degrade ecosystems, increasing the risk of diseases impacting human health.

How can the One Health approach help in managing emerging health threats?

The One Health approach promotes coordinated, multidisciplinary collaboration among sectors like human and veterinary medicine, enabling better surveillance and management of diseases that affect humans, animals, and the environment.

What is the role of international organizations like WHO, FAO, and UNEP in the One Health strategy?

International organizations such as WHO, FAO, WOAH, and UNEP work together to strengthen global defenses against epidemics and pandemics by promoting an integrated approach to health that focuses on collaboration and transdisciplinary knowledge.

What is an example of a successful One Health approach implemented in the public health domain?

A concrete example is the Italian National Prevention and Surveillance Plan for Arboviral Diseases, which integrates surveillance and control actions involving humans, animals, vectors, and the environment in a fully collaborative manner between human and veterinary medicine.