Over 70% of diseases can pass between humans and animals. These diseases are called zoonoses or zoonotic diseases. Some of the most commonly known zoonotic diseases are Rabies, Salmonella, West Nile virus, and Lyme disease. But these aren’t the only threats facing the world of human-animal health. Antimicrobial resistance, food safety and food security, vector-borne diseases, environmental contamination, and other health threats are shared by people, animals, and the environment.
Thanks to modern medicine, animal vaccinations and cutting-edge animal health products, we and our animals are protected against many of these threats. This means better health and welfare for everyone. Healthy animals mean food security for millions of people, enabling farmers to deliver food efficiently, safely and affordably. When animals are happier and healthier, they are more productive. With a growing population and finite resources, we are constantly looking for ways to use our resources more sustainably. Good farming techniques in conjunction with high quality and accessible animal health products can improve the quality of life and productivity of our animals.
Today’s animal health professionals share a common goal: responsible use of animal medicines to prevent and manage diseases. One of the most successful approaches to this goal is the One Health approach. One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach that works at a local, regional, national, and global level. It operates with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes for all.
The One Health approach is gaining national and global recognition as an effective method to combat health issues. But successful public health requires the cooperation of all human, animal, and environmental health partners. Professionals in human health (such as doctors, nurses, public health practitioners, epidemiologists), animal health (such as veterinarians, paraprofessionals, agricultural workers), and environment (such as ecologists, wildlife experts) must all work together. By promoting collaboration across all sectors, a One Health approach can achieve the best health outcomes for people, animals, and plants in a shared environment.
