Brief History of One Health
a. Ancient Times
- Early civilizations (Greek, Chinese, Indian, and Egyptian) recognized the link between human, animal, and environmental health.
- Ayurveda texts and Hippocratic writings emphasized balance between environment, food, and health.
b. 19th Century Foundations
- Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902): A German physician, considered the “Father of Comparative Medicine.” Coined the term “zoonosis” and stated, “Between animal and human medicine there is no dividing line.”
- William Osler (1849–1919): Promoted the study of animal diseases to understand human diseases.
- This period established the principle that human and animal health are interdependent.
c. 20th Century Developments
- Expansion of veterinary public health as a discipline.
- Emergence of zoonotic disease control programs (rabies, tuberculosis, brucellosis).
- Increasing recognition of links between food safety, livestock health, and human health.
d. Early 21st Century: Formalization of One Health
- 2004: The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) launched the “One World, One Health” initiative, identifying drivers of emerging diseases.
- 2008: FAO, OIE (now WOAH), and WHO adopted the Tripartite Concept Note, promoting intersectoral collaboration.
- Global health crises such as avian influenza (H5N1), SARS, and COVID-19 highlighted the urgency of the One Health approach.
e. Present Day
- One Health is now a global movement endorsed by FAO, WHO, WOAH, UNEP, and World Bank.
- Integrated into Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change response, and pandemic preparedness.
- Widely recognized as essential for addressing zoonosis, antimicrobial resistance, food security, and biodiversity protection.