One health approach to control zoonotic diseases

A zoonosis (plural - zoonotic diseases or zoonoses) is an infectious disease that is transmitted between species from ani-mals to humans (or from humans to animals).

And One Health is a collaborative, multispectral and trans-disciplinary approach at the local, regional, national and global levels that aims to achieve optimal health outcomes by recognising the interconnection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment.

This approach recognises that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environ-ment.

One Health is not new, but it has become more important in recent years. This is because many factors have changed inter-actions between people, animals, plants and the environment.

One Health issues

One Health issues include emerging, re-emerging and endemic zoonotic diseases, neglected tropical diseases, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and food security, environmental contamination, climate change and other health threats shared by people, animals and the environment. For example:

Antibi microbial-resistant germs can quickly spread through communities, food supply, healthcare facilities and the envi-ronment (soil and water), making it harder to treat certain infections in animals and people.

Vector-borne diseases are on the rise with warmer temperatures and expanded mosquito and tick habitats.

Diseases in food animals can threaten supplies, livelihoods and economies. The human-animal bond can help improve men-tal well-being.

Contamination of water used for drinking, recreation and more can make people and animals sick.

Even the fields of chronic disease, mental health, injury, occupational health and non-communicable diseases can benefit from the One Health approach involving collaboration across disciplines and sectors.

The approach recognises that the majority of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate from animals and the health of humans, animals and the environment are interdependent.

Therefore, the approach aims to promote a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between humans, animals and the environment that lead to the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases.

The key elements of the One Health approach to zoonotic diseases include:

Multidisciplinary collaboration and communication among human health, animal health and environmental health experts. Surveillance and early detection of zoonotic diseases in both humans and animals.

Research and investigation of the ecological, environmental and social factors that contribute to the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases.

Development of integrated strategies for prevention, control and management of zoonotic diseases that address all rele-vant factors, including human behaviour, animal health and welfare and environmental factors.

Education and public awareness programs that promote understanding of the linkages between human health, animal health and environmental health, and the importance of the One Health approach to zoonotic diseases.

By adopting the One Health approach to zoonotic disease, we can enhance our ability to prevent, detect and control emerging infectious diseases that threaten both human and animal health.

The writer has completed BSc in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry and is currently a postgraduate student at the Microbiology and Parasitology Department at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University