One Health

One Health is a global movement recognizing that human health is closely tied to the health of animals and the environment which we all share. Partners from each sector in human health (doctors, nurses, public health professionals, epidemiologists), animal health (veterinarians, animal control, animal care facilities, agricultural workers), environmental health (ecologists, wildlife experts), and other areas of expertise communicate, collaborate on and coordinate activities. Whether it is a local or a global health issue, realizing that no one sector or agency can address each issue alone, but that working together and combining knowledge and resources is a more effective way to achieve success and protect health.

Common One Health issues include:

• Zoonotic diseases. Diseases that can be shared between animals and humans. Examples of zoonotic diseases include rabies, West Nile Virus, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), influenza or flu viruses.
• Antibiotic-resistant germs that can affect and spread in people, food animals, and the environment.
• Vector-borne diseases. Warmer global temperatures result in the increased spread of diseases by mosquitos, ticks, fleas and other vectors. Examples of vector-borne diseases include West Nile, Zika, Lyme disease, and flea-borne typhus.
• Diseases in food animals that can affect the food supply, livelihoods and economies.
• The human-animal bond which plays a role in improving the mental well-being of pet owners.
• Contamination of water that is used for drinking, recreation or more can make people, animals and plants unhealthy.