ONE WORLD, ONE HEALTH: PREVENT ZOONOSES
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Dr. Rambabu.D, Associate Professor
Dept. of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary Science, Korutla
PV Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University
Jagtial dist – 505 326. Telangana State.
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Introduction
Human health is dependent on healthy ecosystems, which offer safe drinking water, fresh air, medicines, and a stable supply of food, as well as limiting ailments and regulating the climate. Thus, biological variety in all of its forms, or biodiversity, is crucial for human health, a productive way of life, and even medicinal sciences. Global human health is being impacted by the loss of biodiversity brought on by climate change, which manifests itself in weather extremes, drought and flooding, and ocean acidification. The new idea of “One World, One Health,” which is based on the comprehension that people, animals, and the environment are inextricably linked, suggests that people have suddenly realised the connection between ecology, animal diseases, and public health, and are working to maintain and restore harmony and synergy. One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary strategy with the aim of achieving optimal health outcomes while understanding the interdependence between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. It works at the local, regional, national, and global levels.
About One Health
One Health is a philosophy that acknowledges the interdependence between human health, animal health and the health of the ecosystem we all share. One Health is not a new concept, but in recent years it has gained increasing significance. This is so because a variety of reasons have altered how people, animals, plants and the environment interact.
The human population is increasing and moving into new regions. As a result, more people now share their dwellings with cattle and pets as well as wild and domestic animals. Whether it’s for companionship, food, fibre, livelihoods, travel, sport, or education, animals play a significant role in our lives. There are greater potential for diseases to spread from animals to people when there is close contact with those animals and their surrounding environment.
Climate and land usage on earth have changed as a result of deforestation and intensive farming methods. Changes in ecosystems and environmental circumstances might create new opportunities for diseases to spread to animals. Travel and trade across international borders have boosted the mobility of people, animals, and animal products. As a result, diseases can spread rapidly over the world and across boundaries.
These changes have caused endemic and newly emerging zoonotic diseases—diseases that can transfer from animals to humans—to spread more widely. Zoonotic diseases afflict millions of people and animals annually all over the world. Zoonotic diseases include, for example: Salmonella infection, Rabies, West Nile virus infection, Q fever (Coxiella burnetii), Anthrax Brucellosis, Lyme disease, Ringworm and Ebola.
The same diseases and hazards of the environment that affect humans also affect animals. As a result, they occasionally act as early indicators of possible human sickness. As an example, the West Nile virus frequently causes the death of birds in an area before it infects humans.
What one-health problems are most prevalent
Emerging, re-emerging, and endemic zoonotic diseases, neglected tropical diseases, diseases transmitted by vectors, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and security, environmental contamination, climate change, and other health threats that affect people, animals, and the environment are some examples of one health issues. Examples include
Antibiotic-resistant pathogens can spread very quickly through populations, the food supply, healthcare settings, and the environment (soil, water), making it more difficult to treat some infections in both humans and animals.
As temperatures rise and the habitats of mosquitoes and ticks expand, the prevalence of vector-borne diseases is rising.
Food supplies, livelihoods, and economies might all be at risk from diseases in food animals.
The link between people and animals can enhance mental health.
People and animals can become ill from contaminated water that has been used for drinking, pleasure and other purposes.
A One Health strategy combining cross-sector collaboration can help the fields of non communicable diseases, ranging chronic diseases, mental health, complications, and occupational health.
How does a One Health strategy function
One Health is becoming known as a successful strategy to combat health problems at the interface of human-animal-environment, including zoonotic diseases, both in the United States and internationally. In order to monitor and address public health hazards and to better understand how diseases spread across humans, animals, plants, and the environment, the CDC adopts a One Health strategy. This method involves experts in human, animal, environmental, and other pertinent disciplines and sectors.
Cooperation between partners in the fields of environmental, animal, and human health is necessary for effective public health initiatives. Professionals in the fields of human health (doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, public health practitioners), animal health (veterinarians, paraprofessionals, agricultural workers), environment (ecologists, wildlife experts), and other areas of expertise need to coordinate their efforts. Law enforcement, policymakers, the agricultural sector, local communities, and even pet owners might be additional important participants in a One Health strategy. A single person, group, or industry cannot solve problems at the animal-human-environment interaction by themselves.
The “One Health” strategy can:
- Stop zoonotic disease epidemics in both people and animals.
- Improve food security and safety.
- Improve the health of people and animals by reducing illnesses resistant to antimicrobials.
- Safeguard the safety of world health.
- Conserve the environment and biodiversity.
- The best health outcomes for people, animals and plants in a shared environment can be achieved via a One Health strategy by encouraging collaboration across all sectors.
Conclusion
All three are currently in danger as a result of many circumstances, and the environment and the human and animal populations of the planet are intricately linked. The One Health Approach, a holistic strategy aimed at the entire ecosystem, is the only method to tackle the grave issue, which requires coordinated worldwide efforts implementing international health regulations (IHR), global health security agenda (GHSA), and it. There needs to be coordination between all parties involved, including public health and veterinary professionals and organizations, environmental protection organizations, businesses, research facilities, animal traders and handlers, and the general public. It is now necessary for everyone on earth to band together and make their best efforts to fight for the preservation of the ecology that makes up our shared home.
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