ONE WORLD ONE HEALTH PREVENT ZOONOSES STOP THE SPREAD
Banka Anuhya1* and Baby Saranya1
Undergraduate student
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Puducherry-09.
Abstract
The health of humans, animals, and ecosystems are closely interlinked. Changes in these relationships results in increased risk of new human and animal diseases developing and spreading. One Health approach helps to optimize the health of humans, animals and ecosystems by integrating these fields, rather than keeping them separate. 60% of emerging infectious diseases are reported globally from animals, both wild and domestic. Over 30 new human pathogens have been detected in the last 3 decades, 75% of which have originated in animals. Human activities and stressed ecosystems have created new opportunities for diseases to emerge and spread.
Keywords: one health, zoonotic disease.
Introduction
One Health is an integrated approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It uses the interdependent links among these fields to create new surveillance and disease control methods. For example, Weather patterns and human-built water controls can affect diseases like dengue. Trade in live, wild animals can increase the disease spill over. The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the need for a global framework for improved surveillance and a more holistic, integrated system. By addressing the linkages between human, animal and environmental health, One Health is seen as a transformative approach to improved global health.
One Health applies to a range of issues, include:
- antimicrobial resistance
- zoonotic diseases, such as Ebola, avian influenza, rabies, etc.
- vector-borne diseases, include dengue fever, West Nile virus, Lyme disease and malaria.
- food safety and foodborne diseases such as norovirus, salmonella, listeria, etc. and environmental health, such as water pollution, air pollution and climate change.
Zoonotic threats
The environment plays a pivotal role, acting as a bridge between human and animal health and influencing the occurrence and spread of diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in every four deaths globally can be attributed to environmental factors. These factors can contribute to a wide range of diseases and conditions, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. Thus, it is essential to implement a unified and cross-sectoral global strategy to improve the quality of water, soil, air, and indoor environments, thereby addressing the impacts on ecosystems and mitigating the health effects attributable to environmental risk factors.
A human activity such as overuse and contamination of natural resources threatens ecosystems and affects both human and animal health. For example, contamination of water bodies with harmful chemicals is closely associated with the spread of waterborne diseases. Habitat destruction, climate change, and biodiversity loss, disrupt ecological balances, facilitating the transmission of zoonotic and parasitic diseases, even from animals to humans. Deforestation and the encroachment of human activities into wildlife habitats greatly increase the likelihood of disease spillover events. Similarly, climate change alters the geographic range of disease vectors (e.g., mosquitoes), thereby expanding the reach of diseases like malaria and dengue fever.
Parasitic diseases like Malaria, schistosomiasis, and leishmaniasis affect millions worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Similarly, the WHO estimated that echinococcosis, whose prevalence among livestock varies from 20–95% in hyperendemic areas. Additionally, dogs and slightly fewer cats are infected with Giardia, with younger animals showing higher rates. Whereas, in small ruminants like sheep and goats, the infection rates generally range from 20% to 25%, although they can vary from less than 10% to over 40%, with cattle showing similar patterns.
Diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria have high mortality rates and are major causes of morbidity worldwide. Moreover, infectious diseases contribute significantly to healthcare costs due to hospitalizations, treatments, lost productivity, and premature death. Concurrently, the overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of drug-resistant strains of bacteria, while changes in human behavior and the environment may lead to the emergence of new viruses.
Cross disciplinary approach
According to the WHO, a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach is essential in the fight against these health threats. Such an approach involves, strengthening health systems, improving surveillance and response capabilities, and investing in research and development for new treatments and vaccines. It is important to note that efforts must also focus on preventing outbreaks at their source, which means protecting natural habitats, regulating wildlife trade, and improving animal health. Consequently, the WHO, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), has implemented a joint action plan through an integrated approach in which knowledge and skills are oriented towards a culture of transversality, which translates into the One Health Action Plan 2022–2026.
In summary, the One Health concept is not merely a theoretical model but also a practical necessity in our interconnected world. It calls for a collaborative, cross-sectoral, and transdisciplinary approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health. As we face an increasing number of zoonotic, parasitic, and infectious diseases, governments, international organizations, health professionals, and communities worldwide must embrace and integrate the One Health approach to safeguard the health of our planet and its inhabitants.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One Health Basics. Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/onehealth/basics/index.html
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- Mojahed, N.; Mohammadkhani, M.A.; Mohamadkhani, A. Climate Crises and Developing Vector-Borne Diseases: A Narrative Review. J. Public Health2022, 51, 2664–2673.
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