One Health Publications

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal (EID) Volume 20, Number 3—March 2014 An early One Health leader… In Memoriam: James Harlan Steele (1913–2013) “James Steele, DVM, MPH, passed away on November 10, 2013, in Houston; he was 100 years old. Jim Steele (Figure) was an extraordinary man. All of the dimensions of his life were on a grand scale. He was larger than life in so many ways; his vision, his leadership, his accomplishments in public health, his worldwide friendships, his mentorship of scores of young acolytes who came within his orbit, his extraordinary memory, his bear hugs, and his longevity were all manifestations of his boundless enthusiasm for life. … “ Read complete article: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/3/im-2003_article.htm Also please listen to: In Memoriam: James Harlan Steele (1913—2013) Drs. Jennifer McQuiston and Casey Barton Behravesh talk with Dr. Myron Schultz about the legendary Dr. James Harlan Steele. Created: 5/19/2014 by National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID). Date Released: 5/20/2014. Series Name: Emerging Infectious Diseases. http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=8632476 By: Myron G. Schultz, DVM, MD, DCMT, FACP Senior Medical Officer Global Disease Detection Operations Center Center for Global Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop D-68 Atlanta, GA 30333 Note: Dr. Steele was also the founder of the prestigious American Veterinary Epidemiology Society (AVES). Its current President is Charles Thoen, DVM, PhD.  Drs. Thoen, Craig Carter (Steele biographer - http://www.amazon.com/One-Man-Medicine-Health-Steele/dp/1439240043) and other members of the AVES Executive Board will be attending the upcoming American Veterinary Medical Association convention in Denver, Colorado (USA) July 25-29, 2014.  AVES will be honoring high achieving individuals with an awards ceremony including Virginia Dato, MD, MPH and Jack Woodall, PhD.  Dr. Dato is a distinguished member of the One Health Initiative teams Honorary Advisory Board http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/advBoard.php and Dr. Woodall is a member of the One Health Initiative team.

7th One Health Veterinary Record article posted on One Health Initiative website today… British (United Kingdom) Veterinary Journal Publishes another Article of One Health Series 2014 Veterinary Record 2014;175:61-63 doi:10.1136/vr.g3641        One Health in action: the work of the HAIRS group Dilys Morgan, MBChB, DTMH, MSc, MD, FFPHM, MBE + Author Affiliations Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK e-mail: dilys.morgan@phe.gov.uk Abstract The Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group is collaboration between a number of human and animal health organisations within the UK government. The group aims to provide a ‘joined-up’ response to emerging diseases that threaten the health of people or animals. Here, Dilys Morgan, who chairs the group, discusses its work, highlighting its response to Schmallenberg virus, and shows how a One Health approach can improve government responses to potential crises. Please read entire article at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/3/61.full or click on PDF attachment. Provided FREE-ACCESS to the One Health Initiative website June 27, 2014 by: Laura FeethamAssistant Editor, Veterinary Record and In PracticeBMJ, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JRT: 020 78747061E: lfeetham@bmj.comW: bmj.com/company Note: The previous six One Health articles of the series were posted in the One Health Initiative website January 23, 2014, February 23, 2014, March 25, 2014, April 20, 2014, June 3, 2014 and June 29, 2014.  

July 11, 2014 United States Department of Agriculture – Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS)  Subject:  Notice on Vacancies on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (USDA-FSIS)                                                                          We are working to recruit new members for the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF).  The Committee provides scientific advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning the development of microbiological criteria by which the safety and wholesomeness of food can be assessed.    We are seeking members with scientific expertise in the fields of microbiology (food, clinical, and predictive), food technology, toxicology, epidemiology, risk assessment, infectious disease, biostatistics, and other related sciences. We are also seeking nominations for one individual affiliated with a consumer group to serve on the NACMCF. This member will serve as a representative member to provide a consumer viewpoint. Please see the attached Federal Register Notice for additional details on this Committee and how to apply.  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/2f1784a8-57e8-4126-9476-e5de86af8f5e/2014-0017.htm?MOD=AJPERES   Provided by:   Karen Y. Thomas Advisory Committee Specialist USDA, FSIS, OPHS, MD, NACMCF Stop 3777, PP3, 9-210B 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250 Office:  202-690-6620 Fax: 202-690-6364 Email: Karen.thomas-Sharp@fsis.usda.gov

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (USA) Known Universities Around the world with One Health Programs (as of July 2014) Graphic prepared and provided by: Mary Leigh Merrill, MHS Program Coordinator // Co-Editor, One Health Newsletter One Health Center of Excellence, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida 2055 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611 (USA) Tel.: (352) 273-9649 // Cell: (662) 871-8335 Email: mleighmorris@epi.ufl.edu // Website: http://epi.ufl.edu/onehealth Note:  The One Health Initiative team/One Health Initiative website collaborates closely with the University of Florida’s Co-editors of the One Health Newsletter http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/newsletter.php and the current Director of their One Health Center of Excellence, Greg Gray, MD, MPH.  Dr. Gray also serves on the One Health Initiative team’s Honorary Advisory Board http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/advBoard.php.

The whole family, one waiting room By Dean Eleanor M. Green, Texas A&M University, July 9, 2014 Please read http://www.tribtalk.org/2014/07/09/the-whole-family-one-waiting-room/ Provided by:  “… a link to an article that Dean Green wrote for the Texas TribTalk.  It captures our [TAMU] One Health philosophy quite well.” Mike Chaddock, DVM, EML Assistant Dean for One Health and Strategic Initiatives &    Clinical Professor, Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Texas A&M University Mchaddock@cvm.tamu.edu   Suite 101, VMA Building 4461 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-4461 Tel. 979.845.5617 Fax. 979.845.5088

vetsonline   Development of antibiotics a ‘double-edged sword’ David Cameron’s call for global action to tackle antibiotic resistance has been welcomed by the veterinary profession, but experts warn that a focus on new drugs is not enough to save us from returning to “the dark ages of medicine”. … “A one health approach is needed – humans and animals share common problems when it comes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), therefore they need a common solution – yes, new antibiotics can be part of the solution but this can’t just be solved by pharmacology alone.” … Edinburgh academic and BMF advisor Tim Nuttal added: “Without also developing and implementing strategies to reduce antimicrobial use, to use these drugs more wisely, and to develop non-antibiotic ways to manage bacterial infections, we could find ourselves in exactly the same position. It is also disappointing that the One Health nature of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance hasn’t been given more prominence.” Please see http://www.vetsonline.com/news/latest-headlines/140703-development-of-antibiotics-a-double-edged-sword.html#.U7U44fK8lXE.twitter

WN Vaccine News: World Health Organization (WHO)   “…Reducing antimicrobial resistance will require a One Health approach…”   World health officials call for global action on antimicrobial resistance Published on July 2, 2014 by Emma Rogers “Health officials across the world recently called on lawmakers to do more to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which may hamper the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.” … “Reducing antimicrobial resistance will require a One Health approach combining efforts of many stakeholders and sectors, especially in the fields of health, agriculture and aquaculture to work together using synergistic and complementary approaches. The effectiveness and future use of antimicrobials must be preserved for the treatment of human and animal diseases.” Please read entire article: http://vaccinenewsdaily.com/world_health_organization/331095-world-health-officials-call-for-global-action-on-antimicrobial-resistance/

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations media release, Tuesday 1 July 2014 [= “One Health” issue] “Top Ten” list of food-borne parasites released New guidelines being developed to control parasites in food July 2014, Rome - A Top Ten list identifying the food-borne parasites of greatest global concern has been released today, and new guidelines are being developed to control them. The parasites affect the health of millions of people every year, infecting muscle tissues and organs, causing epilepsy, anaphylactic shock, amoebic dysentery and other problems. Some can live on in our bodies for decades. Despite their huge social costs and global impacts, information is generally lacking regarding just where these parasites come from, how they live in the human body, and – most importantly – how they make us sick. As a first step in tackling the problem, the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) are initially focusing on the ten food borne parasites with the greatest global impact. The rankings contained in todays FAO-WHO report, Multicriteria-based ranking for risk management of food-borne parasites, are based on the parasites burden on human health and other factors, and includes information on where they can be found. The top ten are: 1.                              Taenia solium (pork tapeworm): In pork 2.                              Echinococcus granulosus (hydatid worm or dog tapeworm): In fresh produce 3.                              Echinococcus multilocularis (a type of tapeworm): In fresh produce 4.                              Toxoplasma gondii (protozoa): In meat from small ruminants, pork, beef, game meat (red meat and organs) 5.                              Cryptosporidium spp.(protozoa): In fresh produce, fruit juice, milk 6.                              Entamoeba histolytica (protozoa): In fresh produce 7.                              Trichinella spiralis (pork worm): In pork 8.                              Opisthorchiidae (family of flatworms): In freshwater fish 9.                              Ascaris spp. (small intestinal roundworms): In fresh produce 10.                          Trypanosoma cruzi (protozoa): In fruit juices The list and supporting report were developed following a request by the global food standards body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), for FAO and WHO to review the current status of knowledge on parasites in food and their public health and trade impacts. FAOs food safety and quality unit and WHO responded by jointly organizing a global call for information on the problem. Twenty-two nations and one regional body responded, followed by an assessment and analysis by 21 experts on the impact of food-borne parasites. From this work, an initial list of 93 parasites was developed. The list was then narrowed down to the 24 most damaging parasites based on the following criteria: 1) number of global illnesses, 2) global distribution 3) acute morbidity 4) chronic morbidity and 5) economic impact. …   Please read complete Press Release: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/237323/icode/

6th One Health Veterinary Record article posted on One Health Initiative website today… British (United Kingdom) Veterinary Journal Publishes another Article of One Health Series 2014   Veterinary Record 2014;174:650-654 doi:10.1136/vr.g3678 - Volume 174, Issue 26         One health, many histories 1.         Abigail Woods, MA, MSc, VetMB, PhD, MRCVS and     2.         Michael Bresalier, BA, MES, PhD   + Author Affiliations 1.      Department of History, Kings College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK           e-mail: abigail.woods@kcl.ac.uk   Abstract   In another of Veterinary Records series of articles on One Health, Abigail Woods and Michael Bresalier discuss the complex history of veterinary-medical collaboration and highlight the social, political and institutional factors that have contributed towards shaping the One Health model. Please read entire article at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/26/650.full or click on PDF attachment. Provided FREE-ACCESS to the One Health Initiative website June 27, 2014 by:   Laura Feetham Assistant Editor, Veterinary Record and In Practice BMJ, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR T: 020 78747061 E: lfeetham@bmj.com W: bmj.com/company   Note: The previous five One Health articles of the series were posted in the One Health Initiative website January 23, 2014, February 23, 2014, March 25, 2014, April 20, 2014 and June 3, 2014.

Outstanding University of Florida’s (USA) One Health Newsletter Volume 7, Issue 2 Published   Please see: http://media.news.health.ufl.edu/misc/egh/OneHealthNewsletter/Volume7Issue2.pdf All current and previous OHNL issues are also posted on the One Health Initiative website’s One Health Newsletter page http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/newsletter.php. The One Health Initiative team works collaboratively with the University of Florida’s One Health Newsletter Editorial Board and strongly supports their excellent publication.  We encourage all interested U.S. and worldwide One Health supporter/advocates to submit pertinent One Health articles to: Co-Editors Mary M. Merrill, MHS One Health Center of Excellence for Research & Training, University of Florida mleighmorris@epi.ufl.edu  and/or  Sarah K. White, MPH One Health Center of Excellence for Research & Training, University of Florida sek0005@epi.ufl.edu   One Health Initiative Autonomous pro bono Team: Laura H. Kahn, MD, MPH, MPP ▪ Bruce Kaplan, DVM ▪ Thomas P. Monath, MD ▪ Jack Woodall, PhD ▪ Lisa A. Conti, DVM, MPH

The World Bank One Health Project Paper—National Human and Animal Health Systems Assessment Tools and Bridges Project Assessment tools and bridges completed, paving the way to reduction of global health risks June 17, 2014 “Thanks to contributions from the European Commission and nine other donors, the Avian and Human Influenza Facility (AHIF) financed a transformational project that is key to development and health security.  The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) worked closely together, with support from AHIF, to develop and refine their tools for assessing human and veterinary public health systems and to develop an accompanying joint WHO-OIE guide (link to the Project Paper).  This project, the last financed by AHIF, was successfully completed on schedule this year.  The international community now has critically-needed assessment tools that work across the human and animal health sectors.  … …On behalf of the World Bank, Juergen Voegele (Director, Agriculture) and Timothy Grant Evans (Director, Health) welcomed the completion of the joint OIE-WHO project.  They emphasized use of One Health approaches, promptly sharing information and jointly analyzing risks and response effectiveness.  The tools for assessments of the veterinary and human public health systems and the bridges between them are clearly needed to guide improvement in capacities of public health systems to prevent and control diseases, including those that can become pandemics.  The tools will enable smooth implementation of One Health approaches, consistent standards across countries, and badly-needed investments in essential public health capacity. …” Please see: http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/pandemics/brief/assessment-tools-bridges-completed-paving-way-to-reduction-of-global-health-risks   Provided by: Olga B. Jonas Economic Adviser  +1 (202) 473-4655  +1 (202) 469-2727  ojonas@worldbank.org  www.worldbank.org/pandemics

REMINDER:  3rd International One Health Congress 2015 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands   See http://www.iohc2015.com/ and http://www.immunovalley.nl/about-immuno-valley/one-health-links/ Provided by: Aurélie Veltema • Communications Officer My work days are Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday Immuno Valley Yalelaan 42  •  3584 CM Utrecht  •  The Netherlands P  +31 30 253 11 42 Follow us on Twitter 

Master Class One Health for young scientists from the European Union and Southeast Asia Please see attached PDF Provided by: Gregory C. Gray, MD, MPH, FIDSA Professor, Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions Professor, Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine Director, One Health Center of Excellence for Research & Training Email: gcgray@phhp.ufl.edu Emerging Pathogens Institute 2055 Mowry Road Gainesville, FL 32611 Tel: 352-273-9449/9418 Fax: 352-273-9420 epi.ufl.edu/onehealth http://egh.phhp.ufl.edu/ Dr. Gray is a longstanding One Health Supporter/advocate http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/supporters.php and a member of the One Health Initiative team’s Honorary Advisory Board http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/advBoard.php.

4rd One Health article published… British (United Kingdom) Veterinary Journal Publishes 4rd Article of One Health Series 2014 Veterinary Record 2014;174:546-551 doi:10.1136/vr.g3263 “Emerging infectious diseases: opportunities at the human-animal-environment interface” Matthew A. Dixon, BSc, MSc, Osman A. Dar, MBBS, MSc, FFPH and *David L. Heymann, MD   Abstract Infectious diseases pose a serious threat to the wellbeing of both human and animal populations. Here, in the fifth in Veterinary Records series of articles promoting One Health, Mathew Dixon, Osman Dar and David Heymann examine lessons learned from previous disease outbreaks; they also consider current threats and how a better understanding of underlying risk factors could stimulate a paradigm shift from treatment to prevention of zoonotic infectious diseases. Please read entire article at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/22/546.full or click on PDF attachment. Provided FREE-ACCESS to the One Health Initiative website June 2, 2014 by: Laura Feetham Assistant Editor, Veterinary Record and In Practice BMJ, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR T: 020 78747061 E: lfeetham@bmj.com W: bmj.com/company *Dr. Heymann is a longstanding physician One Health Supporter/advocate http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/supporters.php and a member of the One Health Initiative team’s Honorary Advisory Board http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/advBoard.php. Note: The previous three One Health articles of the series were posted in the One Health Initiative website’s NEWS page January 24, 2014, February 23, 2014, and March 25, 2014.

PLoS ONE, Tuesday May 1, 2014 Emerging Infectious Diseases in Free-Ranging Wildlife – Australian Zoo Based Wildlife Hospitals Contribute to National Surveillance    Keren Cox-Witton, Andrea Reiss, Rupert Woods, Victoria Grillo, Rupert T. Baker, David J. Blyde, Wayne Boardman, Stephen Cutter, Claude Lacasse, Helen McCracken, Michael Pyne, Ian Smith, Simone Vitali, Larry Vogelnest, Dion Wedd, Martin Phillips, Chris Bunn, Lyndel Post   Please read complete article http://www.plosone.org/article/infodoi10.1371journal.pone.0095127   Abstract Emerging infectious diseases are increasingly originating from wildlife. Many of these diseases have significant impacts on human health, domestic animal health, and biodiversity. Surveillance is the key to early detection of emerging diseases. A zoo based wildlife disease surveillance program developed in Australia incorporates disease information from free-ranging wildlife into the existing national wildlife health information system. This program uses a collaborative approach and provides a strong model for a disease surveillance program for free-ranging wildlife that enhances the national capacity for early detection of emerging diseases. Citation: Cox-Witton K, Reiss A, Woods R, Grillo V, Baker RT, et al. (2014) Emerging Infectious Diseases in Free-Ranging Wildlife–Australian Zoo Based Wildlife Hospitals Contribute to National Surveillance. PLoS ONE 9(5): e95127. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095127

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Thursday May 22, 2014   One Health: past successes and future challenges in three African contexts Reference: Okello AL, Bardosh K, Smith J, Welburn SC (2014) One Health: past successes and future challenges in three African contexts. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 8(5): e2884. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002884 http://www.plosntds.org/article/infodoi10.1371journal.pntd.0002884 Author Summary “The One Health movement requires more robust evidence around its practical implementation if it is to truly become a way forwards for addressing health issues at the human, animal and ecosystem interface. The research in this paper discusses some of the recent successes and challenges with both Emerging and Neglected zoonoses in the sub-Saharan Africa context. Through speaking to various human and animal health practitioners and policy makers in Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania, the authors have created three case studies highlighting the various successes of the approach to date, but also clarifying areas where the approach will take longer to implement, often as a result of the wide institutional and policy changes required in many countries. The authors conclude that whilst the “goodwill” is certainly there, the reality of planning, executing and budgeting for joint interventions – particularly at the national or regional level – proves in many cases more difficult than first thought. It is hoped however that through gaining better insight from those charged with the decision-making in these countries, One Health practitioners will be encouraged to build on the momentum through addressing some of the issues that arise with its implementation.”

Center of Excellence for zoonotic and animal diseases (CEEZAD) CEEZAD One Health Bulletin #4: The Spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)   Read complete article at http://www.ceezad.org/resources/index.html   May 20, 2014 “Since the emergence of the first known case of MERS-CoV in a human in Jordan in April 2012, as noted in the CEEZAD One Health Bulletin #2 below, this RNA virus has puzzled virologists, epidemiologists and public health officials. What is the source of the virus? How does the virus spread? Does this virus have pandemic potential? The answer to each of these three questions is still much debated, but understanding of the virus is increasing on a daily basis because of extensive international surveillance, monitoring, laboratory investigation and public health care. However, MERS-CoV has now been found in humans in 14 countries-9 in the Middle East, as well as Greece, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Philippines and the USA, as visitors to the Middle East have contacted the virus and returned to their home countries. With more than 600 confirmed laboratory cases of MERS-CoV, and a death rate of approximately 30%, it should be noted that 514 of these cases and 160 deaths have been in Saudi Arabia. …” Provided by:   Robert E. Kahn, PhD Education Consultant College of Veterinary Medicine Kansas State University   Dr. Kahn is a longstanding One Health supporter/advocate http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/supporters.php.

United States Department of Agriculture – Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS)   One Health Food Safety Memorandum of Understanding between USDA-FSIS and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Federal Agencies Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Leverage Expertise during Foodborne Outbreak Investigations http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-and-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2014/nr-051914-01  WASHINGTON, May 19, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will provide a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to address foodborne health hazards associated with meat, poultry and processed egg products. The MOU is part of the One Health initiative, a concept that inextricably links the health of humans, animals and the environment. It embraces the idea that a disease impacting the health of humans, animals and the environment can be best solved through improved communication, cooperation and collaboration across disciplines and institutions. “The FSIS investigation process identifies health hazards in meat and poultry products, and this agreement leverages the expertise of personnel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to complement that process,” said FSIS Administrator Al Almanza. The MOU outlines mutual roles and responsibilities for the training of personnel and the planning of interagency assessment of FSIS-regulated establishments as part of foodborne illness investigations and health hazard evaluations. The MOU does not modify any existing interagency collaborative work, which includes illness cluster and outbreak investigations. “Our agencies work together on foodborne outbreak investigations to identify the source of illnesses and conduct epidemiologic studies. This memorandum will enhance opportunities for us to participate in assessments of FSIS-regulated establishments and other health hazards evaluations,” said Robin Ikeda, Deputy Director of CDC’s Office of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injury and Environmental Health. “This agreement builds on the current working relationship between our agencies with respect to food safety and reaffirms our mutual commitment to a multidisciplinary approach to conducting foodborne disease investigations,” said Beth P. Bell, MD, MPH, Director of CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.   As part of the MOU, FSIS personnel have completed training selected epidemiologists, environmental health scientists and other subject matter experts within the ATSDR, the National Center for Environmental Health and the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. The training focused on FSIS statutes, regulations and investigation process. In addition, training included an in-plant food safety assessment. Following the implementation of the MOU, the trained CDC/ATSDR personnel will be available to assist FSIS in the interpretation of epidemiological data to identify the possible causes of contamination. To read the MOU, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/f09a7013-bb5b-4a2f-bb67-2a61928f77c9/MOU-FSIS-CDC-ATSDR.pdf?MOD=AJPERES. Last Modified May 19, 2014

One Health approach is essential!   How to fight MERS and other zoonotic diseases *Laura H. Kahn, MD, MPH, MPP, columnist - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists  “Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has sickened at least 495 people, killed 141, and now popped up in the United States, has much in common with other recent outbreaks, including SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which killed some 775 patients in 2002 and 2003: They can spread rapidly across borders, stir up fear in the public, and be transmitted from human to human. The most important shared characteristic of ailments like MERS, SARS, Ebola, avian influenza, West Nile virus, and even diseases of bioterrorism like anthrax, though, is the fact that they are zoonotic: That is, they originate in animals and then spread to humans. And this fact points the way to fighting them. Only through a “One Health” approach, which treats human and animal health as all part of the same system, can they be prevented. …” Please read entire column by clicking this link http://thebulletin.org/how-fight-mers-and-other-zoonotic-diseases7159 or the attached HTM view.   *Dr. Kahn, a physician, is a founding member of the One Health Initiative team/One Health Initiative website.  She is also a widely published internationally renowned One Health leader and expert on the subject.