News

Working as one to protect all: Maintaining animal, public, and environmental health through collaboration and partnership

LANSING, Mich.— Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed November 3 as One Health Day in Michigan. This day recognizes the people and organizations working to understand how animal health, human health, and environmental health are connected as well as how collaboration across these areas helps protect our communities. The Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Natural Resources (MDNR) and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) proudly join in recognizing this day and the shared work that keeps Michigan healthy.

"Everyone has a role in supporting animal, public, and environmental health,"  said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "Addressing complex threats takes all of us working together across federal, state, local, academic, industry, and community partners to respond quickly and effectively. Protecting Michigan's health truly is a shared responsibility."

The One Health approach has long been the definitive model used to tackle issues such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, rabies, ticks, mosquito-borne diseases (like eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus), bovine tuberculosis, harmful algal blooms, and much more.

"One Health recognizes a simple truth: the health of people, animals and our environment is inseparable,"  said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive. "When experts across public health, veterinary medicine, agriculture, wildlife and environmental sciences work together, we can detect emerging threats earlier and respond more effectively. Animals often serve as our frontline warning system - changes in their health can reveal risks to humans long before illness appears. By acting on these signals, we can protect Michigan families sooner and more decisively."

"Each of us has an important role in protecting Michigan s environment and the health of our communities," said EGLE Director Phil Roos. "Our values at EGLE guide us to work collaboratively with our local, state, and federal partners while listening to public input and grounding our decisions in sound science. When we come together with that shared purpose, we create a cleaner, healthier Michigan today and for generations to come."

"We always say conservation is a team sport, and that sentiment holds true when it comes to the strategic monitoring of wildlife diseases," said Mitch Marcus, MDNR Wildlife Health Supervisor. "By working closely with state, county, and local partners, as well as with Michigan s vigilant outdoorsmen and women, we are better prepared to protect the health of Michigan s wild animal populations and the people who enjoy spending time in the great outdoors."

The goal of the One Health approach is to create better health. By inviting collaboration and unifying different disciplines, perspectives, and objectives, complex health threats can be addressed with a full and thorough response, resulting in a healthier, more resilient Michigan.

For more information on One Health Day, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. For more on One Health issues in Michigan, visit michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.

View Governor Whitmer's One Health Day proclamation.

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SEE: MDARD - Gov. Whitmer Declares Nov 3 as One Health Day in Michigan 

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/media/pressreleases/2026/11/02/gov-whitmer-declares-nov-3-as-one-health-day-in-michigan