Published on Wednesday 18th November 2020

“ … The Minister acknowledged that all stakeholders have an important role in addressing this One Health issue, and as part of today’s launch he particularly wanted to thank the extensive work and collaboration between the Irish Farmers Association, Veterinary Ireland and Teagasc. …”

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What does ‘One Health’ mean?

The ‘One Health’ concept is a worldwide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment.  Recognising that human health, animal health and ecosystem health are inextricably linked, ‘One Health’ seeks to promote, improve and defend the health and well-being of all species by enhancing cooperation and collaboration between physicians, veterinarians, other scientific health and environmental professionals and by promoting strengths in leadership and management to achieve these goals.  [see https://www.archive.onehealthinitiative.com/mission.php]

“While still in the grips of a global pandemic, it has become painfully apparent that addressing the complex interactions of human, animal, and environmental health needs multilateral and national adoption of a fully integrated One Health approach …”

Nancy Chaney, RN, MS – Environmental Science– Past President, Association of Idaho Cities and Board member, National League of Cities, former mayor, City of Moscow Idaho (USA)

Please scroll down to read page 13 about Outstanding One Health advocate

IDAHO NURSING

Nov, Dec 2020, Jan 2021
Volume 43, • No. 3
Official peer reviewed publication of Idaho Alliance of Leaders in Nursing & Idaho Center for Nursing
Quarterly publication distributed to approximately 22,500 RNs and LPNs in Idaho.

“Simply put, we need a universally employed One Health approach in place now so we can more effectively deal with future health challenges, ones we will surely face, possibly next year or the next decade, whenever.”

“The Covid-19 crisis has reminded us of the links between health and the environment. On 12 November, during the third edition of the Paris Peace Forum, the Ministerial Meeting of the Alliance for Multilateralism inaugurated the One Health High-Level Expert Council. This Council aims to collect and disseminate reliable information on the links between human, animal and environmental health in the context of the erosion of biodiversity. The meeting was also an opportunity to present the report of the Forum on Information and Democracy’s working group on infodemics and to reaffirm the right to reliable information. …”

“In their Perspective “Rigorous wildlife disease surveillance” (10 July, p. 145), M. Watsa et al.underscore the value of One Health approaches to stimulate integration across currently siloed efforts in zoonotic research and mitigation. To achieve comprehensive decentralized pathogen surveillance, there is an urgent need to develop environmental and biodiversity infrastructure in biodiverse countries experiencing high rates of habitat conversion, wildlife trafficking, and human-wildlife interactions. …”

“… Close collaboration between animal and public health authorities is imperative to better identify and reduce the impact of this disease, OIE said. Furthermore, a global One Health approach is needed to understand risks for animal and human health as well as ecosystem health as a whole. …”

“… We will get through this pandemic. But we do not have to wait until the next one before implementing the One Health approach to secure a healthier future for our nation and the world.”

“ … Further, WHO warned that “a [coronavirus] vaccine cannot address the global under-investment in essential public health functions and resilient health systems, nor the urgent need for a ‘One Health’ approach that encompasses the health of humans.” According to WHO’s release, WHO Director-General emphasized the availability of the vaccines, saying, that it is time for the world to heal from the ravages of the pandemic. Further, he warned about the geopolitical divisions that “drive nations further into the chasm of an unhealthier, un-safer and unfairer future”. …”

Key points:

• Denmark to cull its mink to control the risk of human COVID-19 transmission
• Virus strains in mink and humans were found to be less sensitive to antibodies
• The mutated strain could effect the development of an effective vaccine

“Thus, the mutated virus in minks can have devastating consequences worldwide.”

“… Need for a One Health Approach to Handling Pandemics 

Make no mistake, COVID-19 is only one of many such viruses and other pandemics are likely. A One Health approach calls for pulling together human, animal, and environmental factors to arrive at faster, better preventative and control modalities. As a result, fighting the likely impending onslaught of zoonotic pandemic diseases like COVID-19  now and in the future, requires giving far greater consideration to institutionalizing a OneHealth approach. And that includes establishing extensive education and collaborative research efforts between human and animal doctors.

The third component of the One Health, approach namely the environment, has also become a visible element of this aerosol COVID-19 pandemic and will become increasingly so in the future. It too requires heightened education and research funding attention.

Country and global leadership must proactively think and act holistically, dedicating resources to research and teaching in universities and at all institutions of higher learning, so that the interconnection between people, animals, [plants], and their shared environment is recognized—thus significantly contributing to our future well-being.  Indeed, as all One Health supporters and advocates know, One Health implementation will help protect and, for those who get sick, save untold millions of lives in our time and for future generations.”

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