One world, one health: Prevent zoonoses!
Dr. Smruti Smita Mohapatra
PhD in Veterinary Physiology
Consultant Veterinarian
Roshan Vet Medicos, Jammu
UT of Jammu & Kashmir
Introduction
A balanced, optimal approach to promoting the welfare of people, animals, and the environment is known as “One Health.” Post COVID-19 pandemic, the prevention, forecasting, detection, and response to risks to the world health, are extremely important.
The concept of “One Health” by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is a global collaborative strategy to comprehend hazards to human, animal, and environmental health. A formal collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and WOAH (the “Tripartite”) has made it easier to implement the “One Health” concept. After participating in Tripartite activities, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) formally joined the group in early 2022, creating the “Quadripartite”. Priorities include rabies, zoonotic influenza viruses, avian influenza, and antibiotic resistance (AMR). As part of the Asia-Pacific Quadripartite (FAO, WHO, WOAH, UNEP), WOAH is undertaking a few One Health initiatives and providing assistance to its member nations.
One Health and Zoonoses
The “One Health” concept is found on an awareness of the major opportunities that exist to protect public health through policies aimed at preventing and controlling pathogens at the level of animal populations and at the interface between humans, animals and the environment. The health risks at the animal-human-ecosystems interfaces in the form of following- antimicrobial resistance (AMR), avian influenza, bovine tuberculosis, COVID-19 worldwide, food safety, neglected parasitic zoonoses, rabies, tripartite coordination group activities and wildlife health.
Prevention of zoonoses
To combat zoonoses, multisectoral cooperation is becoming stronger. The control and prevention of zoonoses are complicated by antimicrobial resistance. Frequent use of antibiotics in meat and milch animals increases the risk of zoonotic diseases developing drug-resistant variants that can quickly infect both animal and human populations. The strategy mobilizes numerous sectors, disciplines, and communities at various societal levels to collaborate. This leads to the development of fresh and improved concepts that tackle the underlying problems and produce long-lasting, viable solutions.
Way Forward
“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 such as flu, rabies, pollution management, and combatting antimicrobial resistance. Each pathogen has different means for the spread of zoonotic diseases, but several precautions have proven to be successful in lowering risk in both the community and on an individual level. The risk of food borne zoonotic disease outbreaks through foods like meat, eggs, dairy, or even some vegetables is reduced by safe and adequate recommendations for animal care in the agricultural industry. Standards for secure disposal of garbage and the preservation of surface water in natural settings are equally crucial and effective. When zoonotic infections occur, community transmission can be slowed down by educational efforts that encourage handwashing after interaction with animals and other behavioural changes.
