Global health risks and tomorrow’s challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic, a human public health crisis resulting from a virus of potential animal origin, underlined the validity of the One Health concept in understanding and confronting global health risks. Often used to coordinate multi-sectoral prevention, preparedness and response efforts of zoonotic diseases (those that may transmit from animals to humans, or humans to animals), this approach is critical for the control of priority zoonotic diseases such as rabies, avian flu or viral haemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola. Furthermore, numerous cross-cutting issues, such as antimicrobial resistance, food safety, climate change and weak health care infrastructure, need to be addressed from a multisectoral and multidisciplinary perspective, which the One Health approach guarantees.
Health risks are increasing. Drivers such as changes in climate and land-use, unsustainable agricultural practices, globalisation, and the wildlife trade, provide multiple opportunities for pathogens to evolve into new forms, making spillover events from animals to humans more frequent and intense. And the risk is not only for humans. While most risk assessments focus on the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans, diseases can also pass from humans to animals, and generate great impacts on the health of animals, whether domestic or wild. COVID-19, tuberculosis, influenza, among others, can infect or be fatal to different species of animals. Gorillas and chimpanzees, with their close genetic makeup to humans, are particularly susceptible to human diseases. Similarly, to other endangered species, they should be handled with care by Veterinary Services, wildlife authorities and researchers.
Managing these major global health risks is not possible alone. It requires the full cooperation of the animal, human, plant and environmental health sectors. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) brings its expertise in animal health and welfare to the much needed multisectoral partnerships. Together, we aim to develop global strategies to tackle major diseases or broader health threats, such as antimicrobial resistance.
Throughout the Organisation’s work, we promote the One Health approach, recognising the interdependence of animal, human and environmental health. Because the health of animals and of the environment strongly depend on human activities and our relationship with nature. Because the health of animals and the environment also determine human health.
“It’s everyone’s health. Together, we can find concrete solutions for a healthier, and more sustainable world.”
Dr Monique Éloit, Director General
