One Health: Focus on People and Zoonosis

• One Health emphasizes the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health.
• Human health is directly impacted by zoonotic diseases, making people a central focus in One Health initiatives.
• The approach integrates surveillance, prevention, and control strategies to reduce disease transmission.

A. People as a Central Focus

• Vulnerable Populations: Farmers, veterinarians, abattoir workers, and wildlife handlers face high exposure.
• Community Health: Zoonosis affect public health systems, requiring collaboration between medical and veterinary professionals.
• Economic and Social Impact: Human morbidity and mortality from zoonoses lead to economic loss, food insecurity, and social disruption.
• Education and Awareness: Public knowledge on hygiene, safe food handling, and vaccination is critical to prevent disease.

B. Zoonosis in One Health

• Diseases naturally transmissible from animals to humans.

Examples of Major Zoonosis:

• Viral: Rabies, Avian Influenza (H5N1), COVID-19, Ebola
• Bacterial: Brucellosis, Anthrax, Leptospirosis, Salmonellosis
• Parasitic: Toxoplasmosis, Echinococcosis

Transmission Pathways:

• Direct contact: bites, scratches, handling infected animals
• Indirect contact: contaminated food, water, soil
• Vector-borne: mosquitoes, ticks, fleas

C. One Health Strategies Targeting People and Zoonosis

• Integrated Surveillance: Monitoring animals, humans, and environment for early detection.
• Vaccination Programs: Rabies vaccination for dogs and humans; livestock vaccination against brucellosis.
• Safe Food Systems: Proper handling, cooking, and pasteurization of animal products.
• Antimicrobial Stewardship: Limiting unnecessary antibiotic use in humans and animals to reduce AMR.
• Community Engagement: Educating rural and urban populations about hygiene, biosecurity, and zoonotic risks.
• Policy and Coordination: Collaboration among ministries of health, agriculture, wildlife, and environment.

D. Benefits of Focusing on People and Zoonosis

• Reduces human morbidity and mortality from animal-borne diseases.
• Strengthens public health systems through collaborative surveillance and response.
• Improves food security and livelihoods by controlling livestock disease.
• Prevents emerging infectious disease outbreaks at the human-animal interface.
• Encourages behavioral change for safe interactions with animals and the environment.