The Concept of One Health – a holistic approach
Julia LandfordPO Box 885, Woden, ACT 2606
Tel. +61 (02) 6166 7002 & 0414 342 839
Email:
Microbiology Australia 33(4) 139-142 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA12139
Published: 1 November 2012
Abstract
‘One Health’ is a global movement of practitioners and policy-makers to support a better understanding of the ecology of diseases at the animal–human–ecosystem interface. Globally, diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) have resulted in significant human fatalities, animal deaths and multi-billion dollar impacts. Several recent disease events in Australia also highlight the complexity of these issues including outbreaks of Hendra virus in Queensland and northern New South Wales resulting in four human fatalities and dozens of horse deaths. At a broader level, Australia faces ongoing challenges with infectious diseases such as air-borne influenza, antibiotic resistant diseases and food-borne disease outbreaks which have regular impacts on public health. The complexity surrounding transmission of diseases at the animal–human–ecosystem interface highlights the need for multidisciplinary approaches – known as One Health approaches. While there has been some progress with advocacy of One Health in Australia, stronger political will is needed to break down sectoral and disciplinary silos and to enable more effective measures at the operational level.
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