One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses

One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses

Dr Nutan Chauhan

Veterinary Medical Officer, UP

Abstract

The One Health approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health to combat zoonotic diseases, recognizing their interconnectedness and shared vulnerabilities. Zoonoses, diseases transmissible between animals and humans, pose significant global health threats, exacerbated by factors such as urbanization, climate change, and global trade. Effective prevention hinges on collaborative efforts across disciplines and sectors, bolstering surveillance, response capabilities, and public awareness. This holistic approach emphasizes the need for sustainable environmental practices, wildlife conservation, and improved animal health to mitigate disease emergence and spread. By fostering synergies between medical, veterinary, and environmental sciences, One Health advocates for proactive measures to safeguard public health worldwide. Embracing this integrated approach not only enhances disease control strategies but also promotes resilience against future health challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.

Key words: Awareness, emerging and reemerging, infectious diseases, one health approaches, zoonotic diseases

1. Introduction

Over the last decade, the One Health approach has gained significant traction, recognizing the intricate interplay among human, animal, and environmental health. This integrated strategy emphasizes their interconnectedness and mutual well-being, crucially addressing the transmission dynamics of zoonotic diseases—those that can pass between animals and humans—as well as their broader implications. Globally, zoonoses account for a staggering 75% of emerging infectious diseases, with 60% originating from animals and 80% posing bioterrorism concerns. These diseases have inflicted substantial economic losses exceeding billions of US dollars, highlighting their profound impact on diverse sectors of local and global economies. Throughout the past two decades, outbreaks of zoonotic diseases such as Ebola virus disease, avian influenza, and COVID-19 have underscored the global health threats posed by pathogens crossing the species barrier. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared several of these outbreaks as public health emergencies of international concern, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated global responses. Factors exacerbating the risk of zoonotic disease spillover include rapid livestock and human population growth, increasing urbanization, changes in agricultural practices, and encroachment into wildlife habitats. Environmental degradation, driven by unsustainable land use practices and climate change-induced disruptions like floods and heatwaves, further amplifies disease emergence. Fragmentation of wildlife habitats due to development projects and unregulated wildlife trade also contributes to increased interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, fostering conditions ripe for disease transmission. Antimicrobial resistance, worsened by the misuse of antibiotics in agriculture and healthcare, poses additional challenges for disease treatment. Furthermore, environmental pollution and foodborne pathogens from animal products, fruits, vegetables, and water sources continue to threaten food safety, affecting millions globally each year. Addressing these complex challenges necessitates a holistic, interdisciplinary approach like One Health, which integrates efforts across animal, human, and environmental health sectors. Effective implementation of One Health strategies, however, remains variable globally and particularly challenging in low-income countries where resources are limited. Enhancing coordination mechanisms and adopting evidence-based policies are crucial steps toward mitigating the burden of zoonotic diseases and safeguarding public health worldwide.

2. Historical advancement of the One Health approach

The concept of One Health was first articulated by Rudolf Virchow in the 19th century, who emphasized the interconnectedness of human and animal health, rejecting any artificial divide between them. Over time, this concept gained global recognition and evolved significantly. At the turn of the 21st century, there was a paradigm shift towards interdisciplinary collaboration, marking a new phase in One Health’s development. In 2004, the Wildlife Conservation Society introduced the One World-One Health concept, advocating for a holistic approach to prevent outbreaks of diseases that affect both animals and humans, while preserving ecosystem integrity. This initiative laid the foundation for broader global cooperation. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and other international bodies documented a strategic framework in 2008 aimed at reducing infectious disease risks at the interface of human, animal, and environmental health. This framework, titled “Contributing to One World, One Health,” underscored the need for coordinated efforts across sectors. Simultaneously, the World Medical Association (WMA) supported these efforts with a resolution promoting collaboration between human and veterinary medicine. This included joint educational programs between medical and veterinary schools to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. In May 2015, the Global Conference on One Health, organized by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and WMA, further catalyzed global efforts by advocating for increased interdisciplinary collaboration between medical and veterinary professionals. This conference played a crucial role in expanding the platform of One Health initiatives worldwide. Since then, the One Health approach has gained broader acceptance, with its initiatives increasingly recognized and implemented on a global scale.

3. Why the One Health approach?

Animals and humans often share the same ecosystem and therefore can be infected by many of the same microorganisms. Zoonotic diseases like rabies, anthrax, and brucellosis highlight this interconnectedness, where controlling the animal sources of these diseases can effectively prevent human infections. Drug-resistant microorganisms can also transfer between humans and animals through contaminated food and direct contact. Challenges such as environmental pollution, ecosystem degradation, antimicrobial resistance due to antibiotic misuse, and foodborne illnesses from contaminated animal products, fruits, vegetables, and water underscore the complexity of these issues, which cannot be tackled effectively by any single sector alone. Thus, addressing these interconnected challenges requires a well-coordinated One Health approach that integrates efforts across human, animal, and environmental sectors. Furthermore, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-3 and SDG-15 (“Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”), presents a unique opportunity for collaboration across relevant sectors. By aligning efforts under these global goals, stakeholders can synergize their actions to achieve comprehensive health and environmental outcomes, ensuring the well-being of both current and future generations.

4. Surge in Significance of the One Health Approach

Over the past decade, the One Health approach has surged in significance, driven by the undeniable interconnections among human, animal, and environmental health. This integrated systems-based approach underscores their interdependence and shared well-being, with the environment acting crucially as a nexus linking human and animal health and influencing disease dynamics.

5. Environmental Factors and Global Health Impact

Environmental factors are implicated in a staggering one in every four global deaths, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. Thus, a unified, cross-sectoral strategy is imperative to improve water, soil, air quality, and indoor environments, mitigating environmental risks and their health impacts. Human activities, like resource exploitation and pollution, jeopardize ecosystems, endangering both human and animal health; for instance,

water contamination correlates closely with the spread of waterborne illnesses.

6. Ecological Disruptions and Disease Dynamics

Habitat destruction, climate change, and biodiversity loss further disturb ecological balance, facilitating the transmission of zoonotic and parasitic diseases from wildlife to humans. Deforestation and human encroachment into wildlife habitats elevate the risk of disease spillovers, while climate change expands the geographic reach of disease vectors like mosquitoes, exacerbating diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

7. One Health Approach in Disease Control

Recognizing the vital role of environmental integrity in disease control, the One Health approach emphasizes preventing and managing zoonotic and parasitic diseases. Recent global health crises, including COVID-19, avian influenza, and Ebola, starkly illustrate how diseases originating in animals can impact human health worldwide. Similarly, avian influenza outbreaks, such as H5N1, continue to pose significant risks to human health. The One Health approach is increasingly recognized in India as a vital strategy for effectively controlling and preventing diseases that affect both humans and animals, while also addressing environmental factors that contribute to disease emergence and spread. This integrated approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and the environment, acknowledging that the health of each is intricately linked.

In India, where a significant portion of the population depends on agriculture and animal husbandry for their livelihoods, zoonotic diseases pose a substantial threat. Diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis, brucellosis, and avian influenza are examples of zoonoses that have significant public health impacts. Rabies alone causes thousands of deaths annually, highlighting the critical need for coordinated efforts between human health and veterinary sectors to control outbreaks through vaccination programs and improved animal management practices. Environmental factors such as climate change, deforestation, and urbanization further exacerbate disease transmission dynamics, affecting both human populations and wildlife habitats. The One Health approach in India integrates expertise from medical professionals, veterinarians, environmental scientists, and policymakers to enhance disease surveillance, early detection, and rapid response capabilities. This collaborative approach also emphasizes the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural practices, preserving biodiversity, and mitigating environmental degradation to reduce the risk of zoonotic spillover events. By adopting the One Health approach, India aims to strengthen its healthcare systems, improve community resilience to disease outbreaks, and safeguard public health against emerging infectious threats in a rapidly changing global landscape.

8. Complex Dynamics of Disease Transmission

Urbanization, climate change altering disease habitats, and global travel and trade all contribute to the multifaceted dynamics of disease transmission. A substantial majority of emerging infectious diseases stem from animals, with many pathogens originating from domestic or wild animals.

9. Zoonotic Diseases in the India

Zoonotic diseases are a significant concern in India due to its diverse ecosystems, dense population, and close interaction between humans, animals, and the environment. One prevalent example is rabies, transmitted primarily through the bites of infected dogs, leading to nearly 20,000 deaths annually in India, despite being preventable with timely vaccination. Leptospirosis, another notable zoonosis, thrives in regions with monsoon rains and flooding, exposing individuals to the bacteria through contaminated water or soil. Additionally, diseases like brucellosis and anthrax pose risks in rural areas where livestock rearing is common, affecting both animal health and human livelihoods. The country faces several challenges in managing zoonotic diseases, including inadequate healthcare infrastructure in rural areas, limited veterinary services, and gaps in disease surveillance and reporting. Urbanization and environmental changes further complicate disease dynamics, facilitating the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever and malaria, which are transmitted by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water and urban environments. Efforts to combat zoonotic diseases in India include comprehensive vaccination programs for domestic animals, public awareness campaigns on disease prevention, and initiatives to improve sanitation and hygiene practices. Collaborative efforts between health departments, veterinary services, and environmental agencies are crucial for early detection, rapid response, and effective management of zoonotic outbreaks. Strengthening these systems, along with investing in research and education, is essential to reduce the burden of zoonotic diseases and protect public health in India.

10. Impact of Parasitic Diseases and Foodborne Illnesses

Echinococcosis, transmitted through livestock, also imposes a substantial burden, causing thousands of deaths annually and millions of disability-adjusted life years. Effective management of these diseases requires not only medical interventions but also improvements in living conditions and comprehensive education on prevention methods.

11. Evolution of Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases, whether bacterial, viral, or parasitic, continue to evolve and challenge public health systems worldwide, varying widely in severity and impact. High-profile diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria remain leading causes of mortality and morbidity, exacerbated by factors like antibiotic resistance and changing environmental conditions.

12. Collaborative Approach to Global Health Challenges

The World Health Organization advocates for a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach encompassing robust health systems, enhanced surveillance, and research and development for new treatments and vaccines. Strategies must also focus on preventing outbreaks at their source, safeguarding natural habitats, regulating wildlife trade, and improving animal health.

13. Integrated Global Action Plans

Global organizations like the WHO, FAO, UNEP, and WOAH have united to implement integrated approaches such as the One Health Action Plan 2022–2026, promoting cross-sectoral collaboration and knowledge exchange. Food traceability systems play a crucial role in preventing foodborne diseases by swiftly identifying contamination sources and facilitating targeted responses, thereby enhancing overall food safety and crisis management capabilities.

14. Technological Advancements and Environmental Monitoring

The significance of robust traceability systems was highlighted by crises like the mad cow disease outbreak, prompting stringent measures to prevent similar incidents. In the 21st century, globalization and urbanization intensify the interdependencies among people, animals, and goods, amplifying the potential for disease spread across borders. Advancements in technologies such as genomic sequencing, AI, and remote sensing offer promising tools for disease surveillance and environmental monitoring, enhancing our understanding of complex health interactions.

15. Climate Change and Global Health Security

Climate change concerns have increasingly shaped global policies, driven by alarming scientific findings on biodiversity loss, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. This heightened awareness has catalyzed innovation in renewable energy and spurred stringent environmental regulations globally, emphasizing sustainability and collective responsibility for planetary well-being.

Conclusion: Embracing One Health for Global Resilience

In conclusion, the One Health approach transcends theoretical discourse, serving as a practical imperative in today’s interconnected world. It demands collaborative, cross-sectoral, and transdisciplinary efforts to safeguard human, animal, and environmental health amid escalating challenges from zoonotic, parasitic, and infectious diseases. Embracing One Health is essential for enhancing global health security and sustainability, ensuring a resilient future for generations to come.

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