ONE HEALTH APPROACH: THE NEED OF THE HOUR

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment. It is particularly important to prevent, predict, detect, and respond to global health threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together. This way, new and better ideas are developed that address root causes and create long-term, sustainable solutions. The global impact and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a human health crisis caused by a virus passed from animals, highlights the need for coordinated action across sectors to protect health and prevent disruption to food systems.

One Health involves the public health, veterinary public health and environmental sectors. The One Health approach is particularly relevant for food and water safety, nutrition, the control of zoonoses, pollution management, and combatting antimicrobial resistance (the emergence of microbes that are resistant to antibiotic therapy).

“One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent” (OHHLEP One Health definition, 2021).

The accelerating pace of climate change, population growth and changing dietary preferences, global pandemic, and conflicts have threatened food security and the development of agri-food sector. They put tremendous pressure to shift the policy focus to the development of a more sustainable and resilient agri-food industry around the world. Estimates suggest that the global food demand will increase by 70% by 2050 and at least $80 billion annual investments throughout the value chains will be required in response. Most of which needs to come from private sector due to the limited public resources, large scale in mechanization, climate smart technologies, processing, and agri-food logistics. Smaller investments are also needed for farmers and agriculture micro, small and medium enterprises to increase their productivity while reducing environment impact and taking into account climate risks.

Who can make One Health Approach working

Government officials, researchers and workers across sectors at the local, national, regional and global levels should implement joint responses to health threats. This includes developing shared databases and surveillance across different sectors, and identifying new solutions that address the root causes and links between risks and impacts. Community engagement is also critical to promote risk-reducing habits and attitudes, and to support early detection and containment of disease threats.

WHO advancing One Health Approaches: One Health Quadripartite

WHO formed a One Health Initiative to integrate work on human, animal and environmental health across the world. WHO is also working with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE/WOAH) as a One Health Quadripartite.

The Quadripartite is promoting multi-sectoral approaches to reduce health threats at the human-animal-ecosystem interface. The transformations required to prevent and mitigate the impact of current and future health challenges at global, regional and country levels is outlined in the Quadripartite One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH-JPA). The One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) as formed in May 2021 to advise FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH on One Health issues. This includes recommendations for research on emerging disease threats, and the development of a long-term global plan of action to avert outbreaks of diseases like H5N1 avian influenza, MERS, Ebola, Zika, and, possibly, COVID-19. The panel will also have a role in investigating the impact of human activity on the environment and wildlife habitats, and how this drives disease threats. Critical areas include food production and distribution, urbanization and infrastructure development, international travel and trade, activities that lead to biodiversity loss and climate change, and those that put increased pressure on the natural resource base – all of which can lead to the emergence of zoonotic diseases.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

FAO promotes a One Health approach as part of agri-food system transformation for the health of people, animals, plants and the environment. This involves a spectrum of actors and work on sustainable agriculture, animal, plant, forest, and aquaculture health, food safety, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food security, nutrition and livelihoods. Ensuring a One Health approach is essential for progress to anticipate, prevent, detect and control diseases that spread between animals and humans, tackle AMR, ensure food safety, prevent environment-related human and animal health threats, as well as combatting many other challenges. A One Health approach is also critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

FAO works with partners to promote health systemically, in particular, the Quadripartite. FAO focuses on eliminating hunger, promoting food security, food safety and healthy diets, preventing and controlling transboundary diseases, zoonoses and AMR, to protect the livelihoods of farmers from the impacts of plant and animal diseases, and to increase the sustainability and resilience of agrifood systems, with One Health benefits. We are one world working together for One Heath.

FAO supports Members to build and implement effective collaborative One Health strategies and capacities, simultaneously addressing the health of people, animals, plants and the environment. A One Health approach is used to design and implement programmes, biosecurity initiatives, enabling policies and, where relevant, regulatory frameworks to ensure health security from communities to national and international level. One Health in agrifood systems transformation is a key Priority Programme Area, and part of FAO’s Strategic Framework (2022-2031). FAO’s Joint Centre for Zoonotic Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance coordinates One Health across different FAO divisions to mainstream One Health in FAO activities.

FAO One Health priorities include:

• Improving early warning systemson animal and plant pests and diseases, including zoonotic diseases at the human-animal-plant-environment (HAPE) interface.
• Strengthening biosecurity for pest and disease managementin animals and plants, including zoonotic diseases, pests and invasive alien species management.
• Facilitating effective emergency preparedness and responsefor anticipatory action on and response to food-chain emergencies, food safety issues and other health events at the human, animal, plant and environment interface.
• Heightening AMR risk managementat national, regional and global level by supporting One Health responses to AMR in the food and agriculture sector.
• Enhancing One Health systemsthrough strengthening contributions to One Health and biodiversity, and its ecosystem services, environmental health, soil/land, water, food safety and the sustainability of agri-food systems.

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE/WOAH)

 

The “One Health” concept summarised an idea that had been known for more than a century that human health and animal health are interdependent and bound to the health of the ecosystems in which they exist. OIE envisages and implements it as a collaborative global approach to understanding risks for human and animal health and ecosystem health as a whole.

Zoonosis is an infectious diseases that has jumped from a non-human animal to humans and vice-versa. Zoonotic pathogens may be bacterial, viral or parasitic, or may involve unconventional agents and can spread to humans through direct control or through food, water or the environment. They represent a major public health problem around the world due to human’s close relationship with animals in agriculture, as companion and in the natural environment. Zoonosis can cause disruptions in the production and trade of animal products for food and other uses. Zoonoses comprise a large percentage of existing, emerging and re-emerging diseases. There are over 200 known types of zoonoses. Ebola, salmonellosis, rabies, leptospirosis, H5N1 avian influenza, MERS, Zika, tuberculosis, Rift Valley fever and others such as COVID-19 have caused global pandemic. Some zoonoses such as rabies are 100 percent preventable through vaccination and other methods.

Global health risks and tomorrow’s challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic, a human public health crisis resulting from a virus of potential animal origin, underlined the validity of the ‘One Health’ concept in understanding and confronting global health risks.

Health risks are increasing with trade globalisation, global warming and changes in human behaviour, all of which provide multiple opportunities for pathogens to colonise new territories and evolve into new forms. Most risk assessments focus on the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans, while, animal health is also greatly impacted by diseases passed from humans. SARS-CoV-2, tuberculosis, various influenza viruses, among others, can harm or be fatal to different species of animals. Gorillas and chimpanzees, with their close genetic makeup to humans, are particularly susceptible to human diseases, and they, as well as other endangered species should be handled with care by Veterinary services, wildlife authorities and researchers.

Managing these major global health risks, from disease control to global warming, is not possible alone and needs the full cooperation of the animal, human, and environmental health sectors. OIE brings its expertise in animal health and welfare to multisectoral partnerships which develop global strategies to tackle major diseases or broader health threats, such as antimicrobial resistance. OIE promotes the ‘One Health Approach’ by recognising the interdependence of animal, human and environmental health as the health of animals and of the environment strongly depend on human activities. The health of animals and the environment also determine human health.

“It’s everyone’s health”

World health

• 60% of pathogens that cause human diseases originate from domestic animals or wildlife
• 75% of emerging human pathogens are of animal origin
• 80%of pathogens that are of bioterrorism concern originate in animals

Food security

• Some 811 million people go to bed hungry each night
• More than 70% additional animal protein will be needed to feed the world by 2050
• More than 20%of global animal production losses are linked to animal disease

Environment

• Humans and their livestock are more likely to encounter wildlife when more than 25%of an original forest cover is lost. These contacts may increase the likelihood of disease transmission
• Human actions have severely altered 75% of terrestrial environments and 66% of marine environments

Economy

• Animal diseases pose a direct threat to the incomesof rural communities that depend on livestock production
• More than 75% of the billion people who live on less than $2 per day depend on subsistence farming and raising livestock to survive

“One Planet-One Health”

One Planet Summit, held on 11 January 2021, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), highlighted FAO’s track records leading the work on  biodiversity across agriculture and food sectors, recognizing the importance of environmental sustainability as a key determinant of a long term “One Health for All.” The Summit, hosted by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, was the fourth in a series that started as follow-up to the Paris Agreement on combating climate change, aimed to raise the level of ambition of the international community on the protection of nature, while responding to the new questions raised by the COVID-19 crisis. The focus of the Summit this year was on biodiversity. 2021 is considered a big year on biodiversity for the international community. FAO has been on the forefront of the international efforts preserving biodiversity and protecting our planet.

Biodiversity is experiencing dramatic losses at the hands of humans. Unsustainable farming practices, agri-food systems and uncurbed urbanization are all taking a terrible toll on our natural resources. If left unchecked, the alarming pace of biodiversity losses will have devastating consequences for humankind and our capacity to feed the world. For example, around 3 out of 4 emerging infectious diseases in people originate from domestic or wild animals, and there is growing evidence that the key drivers are landscape changes and biodiversity loss. We have seen how COVID-19, a zoonotic disease that spreads from animals to humans, has jeopardized human health and upturned the global economy, putting lives, livelihoods and general well-being and security at risk the world over.

Dealing with a growing climate emergency and diminishing biodiversity, we need to see a bold paradigm shift. Climate and environmental factors must be an integral part of economic models and plans. But political commitment alone is not enough. We must build partnerships, alliances and coalitions for low-carbon and green solutions. These must go hand-in-hand with employment, innovation, and socio-economic opportunities for everyone.  These efforts are also crucial for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Link between biodiversity loss and emergence of new diseases

We need to better understand the root causes of zoonotic diseases, in order to prevent future outbreaks and support a green recovery. A single spillover from animal to human can trigger a global pandemic. This means that we need to work on multiple fronts to reduce the likelihood of spillovers of potential pandemic agents at every crossroad.

Integrating ecosystem health with human, livestock and wild animal health is essential. This is the sure path to mitigating future pandemics. We must promote an ecosystem approach that preserves biodiversity, builds resilience and leads to sustainable food systems. Yet, connecting all these pieces is very challenging and calls for great collaboration and coordination at all levels.

The need for integrated surveillance in human, wildlife and farmed animal populations is an emerging priority to assess and manage the risks. Greater foresight of where, when and how spillovers occur will enable greater targeting of prevention efforts in communities likely to be first affected. And we must support indigenous peoples to secure and exercise their territorial rights to sustainably manage the wild resources they depend on for food, income and cultural identity.

In this way, FAO is working on the frontline to address and tackle emerging infectious diseases at the animal-human-environment interface, including assessing and responding to its potential impacts on people’s lives and livelihoods, veterinary public health and occupational safety, global food trade, markets, food supply chains and animal health.

Rabies

• Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral diseases which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories
• Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans
• Interruption of transmission is feasible through vaccination of dogs and prevention of dog bites
• Infection causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, mainly in Asia and Africa
• Globally rabies causes an estimated cost of US $ 8.6 billion per year
• 40% of the people bitten by suspected rabid animals are children under 15 years of age
• Immediate, thorough wound washing with soap and water after contact with a suspected rabid animal is crucial and can save lives
• Engagement of multiple sectors and One Health collaboration including community education, awareness programmes and vaccination campaign are crucial

FAO, OIE and WHO leaders announce collective effort to end human rabies deaths by 2030. This forum aims to accelerate progress towards the elimination of human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. The disease continues to kill one person every nine minutes – almost half of them children. The Forum, launched by the WHO, FAO and the OIE – the global agencies responsible for human health, animal health and food and agriculture will bring together partners across government institutions, human and animal and environmental health sectors, the private sector, civil society as well as research and academia. It aims to increase understanding of what policy and research work is required and improve coordination (including of resource mobilization) and information sharing between partners.

WHO Director-General said: “We can only eliminate rabies in people if we do a better job of controlling it in dogs, and if we radically improve access to treatment and care – especially among the poor and marginalized groups who suffer the most from this horrible disease.”

FAO Director-General: “While the coronavirus pandemic poses unprecedented challenges to us all, we can and must turn disadvantage to advantage. We have an opportunity now to strengthen One Health collaboration and regional cooperation, particularly to improve animal health systems and surveillance. Collaborating on rabies is an excellent way to put those ideas into practice.”

OIE Director-General: “This is a disease we know how to beat, but there is no single solution. We have to work together, across human and animal health sectors and with affected communities. If we do, elimination is possible, and in the process, we will also be building stronger systems for the detection and control of other diseases.”

FAO, OIE and WHO are committed to operationalization of ‘One Health’, which promotes a policy approach that connects human, animal and environmental health interventions. In the case of rabies, this means coordinated investment in mass dog vaccination as a public health initiative alongside, improved surveillance and data collection as well as community awareness raising and ensuring access to affordable rabies treatment for humans (post exposure prophylaxis or PEP).

Up to 99 per cent of rabies cases in humans are caused by dog bites, and rabies control is seen as a ‘model’ disease for improving zoonotic disease control more broadly. However, investment in dog vaccination, rabies monitoring and surveillance systems remains low in most countries where rabies occurs. Scientific research and field evidence show that mass dog vaccination campaigns that cover 70 per cent of the at-risk dog population can confer herd immunity against rabies and are the only real way to interrupt the disease’s infectious cycle between animals and humans. This can sharply reduce human rabies deaths as a result.

Healthy animals, happy farmers

When we get sick, we first thought might be to get antibiotics from your doctor. However, what we may not realise is that this seemingly small decision can have huge consequences on the health of both your specific community and society as a whole. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, including antibiotics, is causing a growing problem called antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR can lead to the failure of our most important medicines. It is estimated that infections caused by resistant germs kill one person every minute. Without global action, this number is set to rise.

Every time we use antimicrobials to treat infections – in people, animals and plants, these germs have a chance to adapt to the treatment, making those medicines less effective over time. This means that if antimicrobials are used too frequently, the germs causing the infection may become resistant to the treatment and these antimicrobials will no longer work. To add to the problem, these resistant germs can cross borders and continents, spreading between people, animals and the environment. This can result in contamination our food systems and market chains, moving from farms to our tables. Because of this, the world’s farmers have a key role in fighting AMR.

Reduce the risk of spreading germs

One of the key ways to stop germs from spreading is, of course, cleanliness. Farmers must wash their hands, shoes and clothing before and after contact with animals and make sure that they clear away manure and litter often. When an animal gets sick, farmers should separate it from the rest of the animals to help prevent the infection from spreading. Farmers should practice an “all-in and all-out” approach. This means breeding, weaning and raising animals together in groups, emptying animal housing completely whenever animal groups are moved and cleaning and disinfecting housing thoroughly before introducing new animals.

Nutrition and health

An essential way to help animals stay healthy is by ensuring they have good nutrition. Water should always be clean, and animal feed should be kept dry and stored safely away from potential sources of germs, such as rodents, birds, insects or other animals. It is also very important that farm animals are vaccinated to prevent disease. Farmers should always consult with veterinary experts to ensure all animals are protected to reduce the need for antimicrobials. If animals fall ill, it is vital to get the correct diagnosis and treatment. Buying and using the wrong medicine puts the health of farmers, their families and the animals at risk. Using the wrong antimicrobials is also a waste of time and money.

Spread the word – not germs!

Farmers are losing their animals to disease, which is putting the food security of millions of people at risk. Unless we act now, by 2050, AMR will cost the global economy an estimated $6 trillion dollars every year. It is vital that this preventative information is shared far and wide among farming communities. Everyone around the globe must work together to improve farming practices. There is another incentive for farmers to take action against antimicrobial resistance. Stopping AMR will also be good for business. Better hygiene in livestock, poultry and fish farming means less disease. This in turn means better growth, improved production, less money spent on medicine and better profits.

Farmers can play a key role in limiting antimicrobial resistance, but it’s also up to everyone to ensure antimicrobials remain effective for as long as possible. Some of the tips relevant to farmers are important for all of us too. For example, washing hands well and practicing good hygiene stops the transfer of bacteria and viruses. And before taking any medicine, make sure that you have consulted a doctor first to ensure i) that you really need it and ii) that you are treating the illness with the correct medicine.

We need antimicrobials to protect ourselves and our food supply. Without these treatments, people, animals and plants are at risk of suffering and dying from infections. Luckily, we can take action now to keep antimicrobials working as they should. By following simple hygiene guidelines and taking more care with the way we use antimicrobials, we can protect and ensure the efficacy of these critical medicines. Good health and well-being is one of the critical Sustainable Development Goals. Stopping AMR will keep us on track to achieving it.

Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme Policy Brief – Build back better in a post COVID-19 world

We need to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic, to better understand the root causes of zoonotic diseases, in order to prevent future outbreaks and support a green recovery.

Approximately 70 percent of emerging infectious diseases today, and almost all recent pandemics, originate from animals and particularly wildlife (e.g. Ebola virus, Lassa virus, and human immunodeficiency virus). Emerging evidence indicates that such outbreaks of animal-borne diseases are on the rise, mostly due to environmental degradation and the intensification of livestock production and trade in livestock and wildlife.

Human-wildlife-livestock interactions are increasing as human populations expand, and urbanization and economic activities (such as wildlife trade, husbandry, agriculture, fishing, infrastructure development, mining and logging) encroach into wildlife habitats. This greater proximity enhances the probability of disease spillover from wildlife to humans, or wildlife to livestock to humans.

 

Who are at risk

People living adjacent to wilderness areas or in semi-urban areas with higher number of wilder animals are at risk of diseases from animals such as rats, foxes and raccoons. Safe and appropriate guidelines for animal care in the agriculture sector help to reduce the potential risk of foodborne zoonotic disease outbreaks through meat, eggs, dairy products and even some vegetables. Standards for clean drinking water and waste removal as well as protection for surface water in the natural environment are important and effective. Campaigns to promote hand-washing after contact with animals and other behavioural adjustments can reduce community spread of zoonotic diseases when they occur. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is another factor in the control and prevention of zoonoses. The use of antibiotics in animals raised for food is widespread and increases the potential for drug resistant strains of zoonotic pathogens capable of spreading quickly in animals and humans.

As one health approach, World Health Organization (WHO) collaborates with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on Global Early Warning System for Major Animal Diseases (GLEWS). This joint system builds on added value of combining and coordinating alert mechanisms of the three agencies to assist in early warning, prevention and control of animal diseases including zoonoses through data sharing and risk assessment.