One Health Publications

UTMB ONE HEALTH NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 5, AUGUST 2022

August 1, 2022

Join Us in Fighting Infectious Diseases!

We Are Hiring!

The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston is world-famous for its excellence in emerging infectious disease research and training. We are looking for new team members who have a passion to protect the world against today’s and tomorrow’s emerging infectious disease threats. If you want to make the world a better place by fighting these diseases, then join our interdisciplinary, One Health-oriented team. Here are our employment opportunities:
•    Postdoctoral Fellows, Internal Medicine-Infectious Disease (Two positions)
•    Physician-Scientist T32 Training in Emerging Infectious Diseases
•    Program Manager – Center for Tropical Diseases
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Also See UTMB One Health News Stories: One Health and the Systems Approach, Texas Style

John Herbold, DVM, MPH, PhD

https://www.utmb.edu/one-health/news/articles/one-health-texas-style

 

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Religions and One Health Advocacy: Much in Common, Much Needs to Be Done

July 31, 2022

Home  Society  Health

Religious communities have roles to play in One Health since it is an approach consistent with the teachings of most world faiths

by *Richard Seifman, JD, MBA   July 31, 2022

“Diseases and pandemics have meant the world shares a common nightmare. While science can offer some answers as to why and what to do, for many, the reaction to the disease brought them to turn to religion and look at one or another form of faith to find solace.

But in a wider sense, this is a two-way street: religions influence values and our actions. Connecting religious policies and influencers with the nexus between humans, animals, and the environment – One Health – would be powerful and consistent with the teachings of most of the world’s faiths.  …”

*Member One Health Initiative Team Advisory Board

 

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The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2 (science.org)

July 27, 2022

Abstract

Understanding the circumstances that lead to pandemics is important for their prevention. Here, we analyze the genomic diversity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We show that SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity before February 2020 likely comprised only two distinct viral lineages, denoted A and B. Phylodynamic rooting methods, coupled with epidemic simulations, reveal that these lineages were the result of at least two separate cross-species transmission events into humans. The first zoonotic transmission likely involved lineage B viruses around 18 November 2019 (23 October–8 December), while the separate introduction of lineage A likely occurred within weeks of this event. These findings indicate that it is unlikely that SARS-CoV-2 circulated widely in humans prior to November 2019 and define the narrow window between when SARS-CoV-2 first jumped into humans and when the first cases of COVID-19 were reported. As with other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 emergence likely resulted from multiple zoonotic events.

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The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic (science.org)

July 27, 2022

Abstract

Understanding how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in 2019 is critical to preventing zoonotic outbreaks before they become the next pandemic. The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China, was identified as a likely source of cases in early reports but later this conclusion became controversial. We show the earliest known COVID-19 cases from December 2019, including those without reported direct links, were geographically centered on this market. We report that live SARS-CoV-2 susceptible mammals were sold at the market in late 2019 and, within the market, SARS-CoV-2-positive environmental samples were spatially associated with vendors selling live mammals. While there is insufficient evidence to define upstream events, and exact circumstances remain obscure, our analyses indicate that the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 occurred via the live wildlife trade in China, and show that the Huanan market was the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Dealing With Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Up to the Job? – Impakter

July 23, 2022

The WHO mechanisms we have at global level are improved up to a point, but much remains to be done

“… The message is clear that possibilities of new infectious diseases may come from human incursions to natural habitats with opportunistic infections taking advantage of the denser environment. It argues for more proactive surveillance of wildlife, especially, at known possible hotspots, and a One Health approach.  …”

by *Richard Seifman, JD, MBA    July 23, 2022   in HealthPolitics & Foreign Affairs

*Member One Health Initiative Advisory Board

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Monkeypox epidemic: Ignoring Africa comes at a price | ORF (orfonline.org)

July 19, 2022

ORF

Emerging infectious diseases and ‘One Health’ … between different sectors are key to the success of any One Health initiative in Africa.

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One Health Needs More Soft Power – Impakter

July 18, 2022

One way to get it is for the United Nations to appoint a One Health Coordinator to guide policy and program change 

photos richard seifman from impakter.com

by *Richard Seifman, JD, MBA   July 18, 2022 in HealthPolitics & Foreign Affairs

“Since the 1800s, scientists have noted the similarity in disease processes among animals and humans, but human and animal medicine were practiced separately until the 20th century. In recent years, with the support of key individuals and committed advocates such as the One Health Commission and One Health Initiative, the One Health concept has garnered more recognition in the public health and animal health communities and broadened to include the interface with the environment.

But much remains to be done to make One Health a guiding public health principle across the globe.  …”

*Member One Health Initiative team Advisory Board

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One Health & Implementation Research Journal – Announcement

July 13, 2022

One Health & Implementation Research 

Announcement

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Environment, Part of One Health, Is Often Missing in Action – Impakter

July 12, 2022

A new One Health definition covers human, animal and eco-systems, but the latter is not part of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE)

By *Richard Seifman    July 12, 2022   in HealthSociety

“There is good news in that, at the global level, there has been increased attention and deliberation about One Health and how to find common ground to operationalize it. As I will show here, expansion of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) could solve the problem. A significant milestone was achieved when four international organizations, WHOFAOWOAH, and UNEP agreed on an operational definition. These four represent a broad range of disciplines in science and policy-related sectors.

The agreed definition is as follows:

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.

It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent.

The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems, while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development.  …”

*Member One Health Initiative Advisory Board

 

 

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One Health & Implementation Research (ohirjournal.com)

July 11, 2022

2022 Volume 2, Issue 2 – 8 Articles

Original Article

1. A new scoring system for operational indicators guiding leprosy monitoring and surveillance in Brazil

Anderson Fuentes Ferreira, Jorg Heukelbach, Eliana Amorim de Souza, Gabriela Soledad Márdero García, Carmelita Ribeiro Filha, José Ueleres Braga, Maria Leide Wan-Del-Rey Oliveira, Adriana da Silva dos Reis, Francesco Corona, Sebastião Alves de Sena Neto, Elaine Silva Nascimento Andrade, Thainá Isabel Bessa de Andrade, Alberto Novaes Ramos Jr

DOI: 10.20517/ohir.2021.09

2. Rabies: knowledge, attitudes and practices in the Suhum municipality of Ghana

Richard Dery Suu-Ire, Amos Sarpong, Emily Mudoga, Samuel Asumah, Benjamin Kissi Sasu, Meyir Yiryele Ziekah, Bonodong Guri, Sherry Johnson, Sylvester Languon

DOI: 10.20517/ohir.2022.04

3. A qualitative exploration of perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine in Malawi during the vaccine rollout phase

Elvis Safary, Caroline Mtaita

DOI: 10.20517/ohir.2022.08

  1. Characterization of freshwater snail intermediate hosts of schistosomes in four communities from Osun State, Southwest Nigeria

Uade S. Ugbomoiko, Issa I. Kareem, Doyinsola O. Awe, Abdulkareem O. Babamale, Pam V. Gyang, Timothy E. Nwafor, Olaoluwa P. Akinwale

DOI: 10.20517/ohir.2022.05

Opinion

1. The importance of free education for public health and for social transformation

Cláudia Maria Lins Calheiros

DOI: 10.20517/ohir.2022.06

Review

1. Eco-epidemiological studies to develop integrated vector surveillance of leishmaniasis vectors in the Americas

Oscar Daniel Salomón, María Gabriela Quintana

DOI: 10.20517/ohir.2022.09

2. Current status of the treatment of paragonimiasis

Joachim Richter

DOI: 10.20517/ohir.2022.10

Technical Note

1. Capacity building for wildlife health professionals: the Wildlife Health Bridge

Anna Meredith, Neil Anderson, Pradeep Malik, Parag Nigam, Alexandra Thomas, Nic Masters, Amanda Guthrie, Hannah Davidson, Stuart Patterson, Rajan Amin, Lee Skerratt, Richard Kock, Anthony Sainsbury

DOI: 10.20517/ohir.2022.03

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Protecting nature: key to breaking the zoonoses chain

July 10, 2022

PIA

Published on: July 09, 2022 –  By ACB

“ … As a potential pathway forward, the ACB is exploring how One Health, an integrated approach to addressing public health concerns which is hoped to open greater collaboration across sectors and stakeholders on human and environmental or ecosystem health.

The collaboration exemplified by experts, scientists, and governments in pushing back on the impacts of COVID-19 is evidence of the greater potential to break the chain. The adaptive measures put in place, as seen in the intensive efforts toward vaccine development and roll-out, have proven to contribute concretely to its management. However, nature-based solutions are proven to be valuable components of a broader longitudinal mitigation strategy to prevent future pandemics and outbreaks.

Biodiversity is an integral part of the solution. Internalising this and translating it into positive personal and institutional actions can only be done once a deeper understanding of the linkages between biodiversity and health has been achieved.  …”

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One Health Happenings – June/Early July 2022

July 9, 2022

One Health Commission

One Health Happenings: Sharing news from June/Early July 2022

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Combating the global spread of poverty-related Monkeypox outbreaks and beyond | Infectious Diseases of Poverty | Full Text

July 8, 2022

“ … Role of One Health approach against zoonotic Monkeypox outbreak

Given the importance of human–animal–environment interface in the emergence and spread of outbreak, fostering One Health approach activities and multisectoral collaboration have benefits through timely and robust sustained investment on Monkeypox and other emerging epidemics population-based programs to reduce poverty, while leveraging from lessons learnt from others pandemics or outbreaks implementation. Increasing the most vulnerable poor health education and awareness outreach, coupled with evidence-based COVID-19 response and recovery programs, financial mechanisms and interventions, community health workers training and capacity building in COVID-19 and other routine vaccination programs efficient and sustainable delivery is needed. In addition, increasing effective mitigating and information communication against the social media rumors, and misinformation to prevent and control the growing Monkeypox outbreak coupled with COVID-19 pandemic public and global health effects [26]. Furthermore, operational One Health research agenda on poverty related outbreaks and pandemic should be initiated in improving local and regional surveillance, preparedness and response interventions, in contributing to global health security agenda.

Strengthening International Health regulations and global security actions against Monkeypox outbreak, should include effficient preventative and precautionary measures, prompt clinical management and vaccines research collaboration. Most importantly, fostering One Health approach implementation, are crucial implementation after understanding Zoonotic viral diseases including Monkeypox and COVID-19 animal reservoirs–human link, environment transmission and interconnections for evidence based solutions. Interestingly, two smallpox vaccines (ACAM-2000 and MVA-BN) have been recommended for vaccination against Monkeypox to people at risk of occupational exposure (Laboratory technician, clinical workers, frontline staff) by the European Medicines Agency in 2013 and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019 respectively [26]. However it efficacy and safety of these vaccines approved still require further clinical trials and pharmacovigilance monitoring amongst vulnerable groups to guarantee herd immunity against this viral infection. These include better diagnostic for surveillance, improved hospital infection prevention and control measures, and social and safety containment countermeasures. These are required joint actions implementation to curtail the outbreak by securing equitable risk and information sharing and public engagement, widely access to vaccines, vaccine distribution, and effective contextual risk communication and engagement strategies to target Monkeypox vaccination coverage amidst COVID-19 pandemic response to the most vulnerable and marginalized poor and rich people.

Prompt, reliable and secured information sources ought to continue rise citizens and country awareness and education outreach, healthcare decentralization and transparency for readiness by governments and stakeholders to prevent, monitor and tackle any eventual outbreak of Monkeypox. Country-led poverty alleviation strategies and efforts in improving effective partnership and governance, strengthening quality care delivery services, vaccination stockpile, coverage and effectiveness are vital for resilience building and improved health outcomes. These are required to prepare and strengthen at risk and marginalized communities, enhanced empowerment and knowledge of all risk populations including travelers, pilgrims and tourists, to such unprecedented global outbreak effects on travel medicine, global trade and health agenda [178]. More operational research is needed in building evidence for comprehensive and efficient decisions policies and public engagement targeted actions. It is crucial to address knowledge gaps and poverty linked outbreak and NTDs roadmap and research priorities 2030 [12]. This is paramount to improve available data and information to build evidence-based decision making policies, effective and sustainable countermeasures, and innovative response solutions to prevent and contain these emerging and reemerging infectious diseases outbreaks in old and new zones.  …”

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