One Health

The vital link between human and animal well-being

The next pandemic will require crucial collaboration between veterinarians and medical professionals. Are we ready?

Many experts believe that the ‘next global pandemic’ is not a case of if, but when.
Factors such as increased urbanisation and travel, reduced biodiversity, and the heat, drought and floods caused by climate change are only increasing its likelihood, meaning zoonotic and reverse-zoonotic infectious diseases are likely to become even more common.

As countries and organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) begin pandemic exercises to test the effectiveness of planning and healthcare, it’s becoming increasingly important to examine the connection between human and animal health.

A more connected healthcare model

The One Health philosophy is described by WHO as ‘an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems’.

It recognises the importance of understanding the entire global health ecosystem from a holistic perspective and recognises the key roles of both veterinary professionals and medical teams in identifying, assessing and addressing disease.

Veterinarians are already equipped with a unique perspective on how outbreaks affect both human and animal health. After all, we’re trained not just to think about the animal in front of us, but to look at the broader implications.

Are these blisters on this cow an isolated incident, or are they indicative of something more serious?

Take the Hendra virus, for example. It can spread, on occasion, from bats to horses and then from horses to humans. Rare but fatal, its detection comes down to veterinary skills and awareness – which is particularly challenging as this virus presents in horses in a very vague and non-specific way.

Veterinary professionals must be alert to any number of possibilities as animals are presented to them, and we need to be vigilant in detection and diagnosis, as our expertise can make all the difference in mitigating the impact of these outbreak events.

But when it comes to preventing another global health crisis, we all have a responsibility – from human medical practitioners, researchers and veterinarians to pharmaceutical companies, biotech organisations, and many other private and public institutions – because we are all operating in one global environment.

A collaborative future

Despite the lessons of the pandemic, the vital role of vets within a One Health context is often still underestimated. While there is some collaboration between veterinary and human healthcare systems, there isn’t enough.

Adopting a One Health approach is vital to ensuring cross-discipline insights and breakthroughs are shared across all professions. It also contributes to building an ecosystem of collaborative healthcare that provides veterinary and medical professionals with more support and training.

For example, Zoetis has established alliances with infectious disease networks, uniting top experts and resources to tackle emerging health threats. This collaboration can accelerate the development of solutions for diseases affecting both humans and animals.

A striking example was the horse vaccine developed quickly and cost-effectively during the Hendra virus outbreak – controlling Hendra virus in horses directly protects human health, saving lives. It exemplifies the One Health philosophy and highlights the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health.

There is no doubt that the next outbreak is coming. However, if we invest in One Health today, our combined expertise can potentially change the outcome for humans and animals.

Stephanie Armstrong is Regional President at Zoetis. Go to zoetis.com