The concept of One Health is not new, but it has become more important in recent years. The approach – focusing on the connection between the health of people, animals and ecosystems – is here to stay, as we see a rise in zoonotic diseases (including COVID-19, avian influenza and mpox) in the WHO European Region. So what should we know about One Health? And how is WHO/Europe supporting countries across Europe and central Asia to put One Health into practice?
Here are 5 things to know about One Health in the WHO European Region.
1. The health of humans, animals and ecosystems is closely interlinked.
Globally, 6 out of 10 emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals – wild and domestic. Over 30 new human pathogens have been detected in the last 3 decades, 75% of which have originated in animals.
This connection between animal and human health will continue to tighten as human populations grow and expand into new areas, living in closer contact with animals; changes in climate and land use fan the spread of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases; and diseases spread faster as global trade and travel expand.
One Health recognizes this close connection between people, animals and our environment, and provides an integrated, unifying approach so that health threats can be addressed holistically, with experts from multiple sectors – from veterinarians, doctors, epidemiologists, public health practitioners to wildlife experts – working together. This can then lead, for example, to new surveillance and disease control methods.
2. One Health applies to a range of issues – from zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance to food safety.
One Health-related issues include:
- antimicrobial resistance (AMR);
- zoonotic diseases – for example, rabies and anthrax;
- vector-borne diseases – mostly Lyme disease, but also dengue, chikungunya, and Chagas; and
- food safety and foodborne diseases – campylobacteriosis is one the most common foodborne diseases in the Region.
Why is AMR, for example, a One Health issue? Antimicrobial-resistant germs and parasites – those that are resistant to drugs meant to combat them – can quickly spread through health-care facilities, food and the environment (soil and water), making treatment of certain infections in people and animals more challenging, and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
AMR has been declared by WHO as one of the top 10 global public health threats.
3. We need to strengthen the application of the One Health approach.
By using a One Health approach, countries have been able to successfully tackle some zoonotic infections. For example, coordination between multiple government and research agencies with expertise in human, animal and environment health led to a reduction in human salmonella infections (linked to the consumption of poultry products) in the United Kingdom in the 1990s.
Another more recent example is linked to AMR, as significant work has been done across the Region to strengthen multisectoral coordination and develop integrated AMR surveillance systems. Timely and consolidated information on AMR and antimicrobial use in communities, health-care facilities, food production and other areas affecting the environment helps to reduce the devastating impact of AMR on public health, the environment and agrifood systems.
But in many other areas, countries are struggling with adopting a One Health approach.
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the need to strengthen One Health into sharp relief. Gaps in One Health knowledge, prevention and integrated approaches were seen as key drivers of the pandemic, highlighting that moving towards improved surveillance and a more holistic, integrated health system cannot wait. This has led to stronger political commitment and international support to double down on One Health efforts and improve global health. The same is true for the WHO European Region.
4. WHO/Europe helps to build stronger One Health alliances at regional, national and local levels.
Whilst One Health is a global concept, WHO/Europe’s approach to One Health is rooted locally, with an eye on responding to countries’ specific needs and building stronger One Health alliances at regional, national and local level.
On the action front, WHO/Europe has been rolling out workshops aimed at building knowledge and capacity in surveillance and information sharing; formalizing and strengthening collaboration amongst different sectors; and equipping countries to better prepare for and respond to outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. Since 2021, workshops have taken place in 7 countries and areas (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo*, and Romania), and more countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan) are set to benefit from such workshops in 2023 and beyond.
WHO/Europe is also supporting countries in the Region to develop national action plans for AMR as well as health emergency preparedness and response, and is developing an AMR roadmap for the Region, based on a One Health approach.
Additionally, in 2022, WHO/Europe established the first WHO European One Health Technical Advisory Group (TAG), composed of 22 renowned experts, to provide strategic advice and direction to WHO/Europe. The TAG is currently supporting the design of the first “Operational Framework for One Health for the WHO European Region” to guide countries on how they can implement One Health at national level.
On the policy front, WHO/Europe is working with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) across Europe and central Asia to create more enabling environments for the uptake and rollout of the One Health approach in different areas of work.
On the knowledge front, WHO/Europe is in the process of developing a Compendium of Practices on One Health, a compilation of lessons learned in the Region showcasing the state of the art in implementing One Health at national level and promoting knowledge exchange and peer learning.
5. One Health is more relevant now than ever.
Many health issues for which a One Health approach would be relevant are not new, and are here to stay, but a business-as-usual approach will not tackle them. We need to drastically change the way we address these health issues. This includes new accountability mechanisms, more funding, dedicated workstreams and streamlined management structures.
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* All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.