Introduction

The field of Public Health concerns the management of human health at the community level. This contrasts to other aspects of medicine where treatment is frequently focussed on the individual. Public Health often involves methods of disease prevention (e.g. vaccination, sanitation, etc.). Veterinary Public Health concerns all areas of Public Health that can be protected or improved by Veterinary Medicine. It comprises all the community efforts influencing and influenced by the veterinary medical arts and sciences applied to the prevention of diseases, protection of life, and promotion of the well being and efficiency of man” (1951 FAO:ibid).  Under this broad definition Veterinary Public Health could include almost all aspects of veterinary work from treating pets to farm animal veterinary work (as this helps secure food production, essential to public health).

“One Medicine” was used by Dr. Schwabe in his 1984 book, Veterinary Medicine and Human Health (in PPP on An Introduction to Veterinary Public Health, OIE-Paris:2009) His insightful words, “The critical needs of man include the combating of diseases, ensuring enough food, adequate environmental quality, and a society in which humane values prevail,” are even more compelling today (ibid) From “One Medicine”, the concept of “One Health” has evolved Veterinary Science and Human Health.