Zoonotic Diseases Ι Q&A
One Health: for people and the environment The converging global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change have brought to the forefront the need to look at human and environmental health as one. To better understand what other organizations are doing to make that happen, we interviewed Monique Eloit, Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and advocate for the One Health approach to public health.
Q: What is One Health and how is it different from what has been practised over the past 50 years? A: The importance of collaboration across human, animal and environmental sectors has been recognized and practised for centuries. About 20 years ago, One Health was coined and called for as a holistic and multisector approach in the design and implementation of human health programmes and those that affect the health of animals and the environment. After the influenza crisis in the 2000s, and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-related issues more recently, the COVID-19 crisis created an opportunity for a renewed commitment to this approach. One Health relies on the understanding that humans, animals and the environment are inherently interconnected and co-dependent. It is estimated that 60 per cent of existing human infectious diseases are zoonotic, and at least 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases originate from animals. Healthy ecosystems are essential for the survival of humans and animals. We can no longer think of one group’s health without considering the health status of others. This realization is a turning point from the past 50 years, where only human health had been the primary focus. Since 2010, the OIE has committed to furthering the One Health approach within the Tripartite Alliance with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We share common objectives and activities in the prevention and control of health risks, while also distributing and promoting scientific information on One Health topics, such as AMR, rabies and avian influenza. The Tripartite Alliance recently expanded to include the United Nations Environment Programme and set up a One Health High Level Expert Panel. The panel will advise on a long term global plan of action to avert outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. 30 | IAEA Bulletin, September 2021
One Health relies on the understanding that humans, animals and the environment are inherently interconnected and co-dependent. — Monique Eloit, Director General, World Organisation for Animal Health
Q: Climate change is an issue overshadowing many decisions. How does the climate crisis affect One Health and efforts to control zoonotic disease outbreaks? A: Climate change increases the frequency of the emergence of diseases, which impacts health systems. Climate change also increases the frequency of extreme weather events, which directly impacts animal health. Increased temperatures, for instance, have impacted the geographical and temporal distribution of disease vectors, such as mosquitoes and ticks, which are responsible for the transmission of vector-borne diseases. Habitat loss due to climate change, as well as anthropic activities like mining, farming and deforestation, can push wildlife to new areas. Increased exposure of wildlife to human settlements or livestock can result in the transmission of pathogens. Countries need to build disease surveillance capacities for both human and animals and commit to better
