One Health Publications

ABSTRACT

This commentary discusses the contributions that One Health (OH) principles can make in improving the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We highlight four areas where the application of OH has the potential to significantly improve the governance of infectious diseases in general, and of COVID-19 in particular. First, more integrated surveillance infrastructure and monitoring of the occurrence of infectious diseases in both humans and animals can facilitate the detection of new infectious agents sharing similar genotypes across species and the monitoring of the spatio-temporal spread of such infections. This knowledge can guide public and animal health officials in their response measures. Second, application of the OH approach can improve coordination and active collaboration among stakeholders representing apparently incompatible domains. Third, the OH approach highlights the need for an effective institutional landscape, facilitating adequate regulation of hotspots for transmission of infectious agents among animals and humans, such as live animal markets. And finally, OH thinking emphasizes the need for equitable solutions to infectious disease challenges, suggesting that policy response mechanisms and interventions need to be reflective of the disproportionate disease burdens borne by vulnerable and marginalized populations, or by persons providing health care and other essential services to those sick.

Collaborating across conservation and international development sectors to mitigate zoonotic disease transmission from wildlife to humans

 One Health promotes improved data sharing, communication, and cross-sectoral coordination among agencies to improve understanding of …

“… Public health professionals face increased pressure to understand and prevent zoonotic diseases. During the webinar, Jim Desmond, a wildlife veterinarian based in Liberia, presented the idea of One Health as an approach to treating all life and all health as interconnected. One Health promotes improved data sharing, communication, and cross-sectoral coordination among agencies to improve understanding of transmission pathways for disease between animals and humans to better inform control measures to prevent large scale outbreaks. Michael offered concrete suggestions for improved collaboration between the wildlife, forestry, security, customs, and health sectors, including expanded coordination through the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). At present, lack of such coordination, both at the local and global scale, is creating barriers to meaningful action on prevention of zoonotic disease outbreaks. Could the One Health approach provide a framework towards better collaboration?

“If we address the threats to wildlife, we would be addressing the risk of contact with wildlife at the local level and making sure there are less opportunities for zoonotic diseases to jump to human beings.” —Michael Balinga, biodiversity advisor for the WA-BiCC project

Countries like Vietnam and Liberia offer demonstrated success cases for One Health approaches in responding to and preventing zoonotic diseases at the national level. In Liberia, following the initial Ebola outbreak, a One Health platform was established to bring together government leaders responsible for forestry, environment, health, and agriculture, along with the National Public Health Institute and non-governmental organization to improve understanding of where these diseases come from. As a result, these entities now meet weekly to ensure if there is another zoonotic disease outbreak, they can quickly allocate resources and develop teams to investigate the issue. …”

So, you can imagine our surprise when Goop recently published a piece on One Health featuring an interview with animal and human health expert, …

“… The same vaccine could one day prove effective in humans, though trials are years and many millions of dollars away. “It’s a great candidate for human immunization,” said Dr. Tom Monath*, managing partner and chief scientific officer of Crozet BioPharma, which is working on the vaccine. “It’s hard to offer any promises, but it could take less than 10 years.”

*Note: Dr. Monath is a co-founder of the One Health Initiative Team and website.

“… My government and most importantly our people have recognized the need to better prepare to deal with viruses, bacteria, and parasites.  For us, a future epidemic might well come from a viral transfer from an animal, probably a bat, to an intermediary specie, and then cross over to humans.   As a result, some years ago we invited UN technical agencies, including WHO, FAO, UNEP, to help us understand  the challenges and prepare a strategy to deal with the interface of human, animal, and environmental health, often referred to as One Health [https://www.onehealthinitiative.com]. With their assistance  we developed a strategy which includes strengthening intersectoral coordination at national and district levels; enhancing  surveillance and risk analysis systems for prioritized zoonotic diseases; improving  the effectiveness of our communication tools and networks; strengthening coordinated joint field outbreak investigation and response; and investing in human, animal, and wildlife professionals. …”

One Health recognises that the health of humans, animals and our environment are all inter-connected. …

In recognition of each stakeholder’s mission and its contribution to the One Health concept, the task force articulates a clear mission: to bring professions, stakeholders and citizens together in multiple ways to share knowledge, find common ground, refine planning and policies and take actions to coordinate definitive gains in human, animal, plant and ecosystem health.

“Animal, human and environmental health leaders gather to explore insights and derive solutions using the One Health approach to responsible antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance. …”

“… In a One Health perspective, Fangcang Shelter hospitals, with its functions of isolation and treatment of confirmed COVID-19 patients, engaged professionals from many disciplines, such as medicine, engineering, architecture, psychology, environmental health, and social sciences. The results of this study provide a valuable reference for health policy makers in other countries.”

Conclusions

The findings in this report can be considered in conjunction with other public health data to detect emerging trends and inform interventions to prevent further animal contact outbreaks. The 59 enteric disease outbreaks that were linked to animals or their living environments in 2017 indicate the need to better understand enteric diseases using a One Health approach. Successful public health interventions rely on integrating human, animal and environmental health efforts to achieve optimal health outcomes. Outbreaks can be prevented by using data-driven interventions, such as proper handwashing after contact with animals or their environments, regardless of the setting or the type of animal.³

ONE HEALTH

University of Glasgow researchers and Colombian collaborators are working towards community-led responses to the challenges of COVID-19 within indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

“The World Health Organisation defines ‘One Health’ as “an approach to designing and implementing programmes, policies, legislation and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes”. …”

Please see One Health article “One Health Research, Education, and Mentorship during the COVID-19 Pandemic” on pages 22-25.

“This current global health crisis has demonstrated that junior doctors are – and will continue to be – influential leaders in One Health research applications, educational outreach activities, and academic mentorship opportunities.”