The increasing prevalence of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases presents a major challenge to global health and socio-economic development. These diseases, often arising at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health, demand a comprehensive and systemic approach. The One Health concept, rooted in transdisciplinary collaboration, offers a robust framework to address this complexity, particularly in controlling the factors that promote the emergence and spread of infectious diseases.
One Health facilitates an understanding of the human-animal-environment interface, the epicenter of many zoonotic diseases. Two guiding principles emerge as critical in the prevention, control, and elimination of infectious threats: recognizing heterogeneity and building resilient surveillance-response systems. Recognizing disease transmission heterogeneities such as differences across regions, age groups, and social behaviors is vital in tailoring health strategies to specific contexts. This precision ensures that interventions are both effective and equitable, especially in vulnerable and resource-limited settings.
Robust surveillance-response systems are equally vital. These systems integrate human, animal, and environmental data in near real-time, enabling timely and informed decision-making. Key to their success is the establishment of a minimum essential dataset (MED) and the use of sensitive diagnostics. Such systems must be operational at decentralized levels to ensure responsiveness in diverse settings.
Three examples illustrate the power of One Health in practice. In Canada, integrated antimicrobial resistance surveillance across human and animal sectors has enhanced early detection and containment efforts. In Chad, a dog rabies vaccination program significantly reduced human rabies cases and proved more cost-effective than treatment alone. China’s success in controlling schistosomiasis through phased, multisectoral action further demonstrates the potential of One Health in eliminating endemic diseases.
Moving forward, strategies must focus on promoting health equity, ensuring that all populations have access to quality health services. Resource allocation should be informed by spatial disease data to prioritize high-risk areas. Cost-effectiveness analysis can guide efficient investment in interventions without compromising quality.
Crucially, applying systems thinking and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration are essential to sustainable disease prevention. Transdisciplinary science uniting medicine, veterinary science, environmental studies, and social sciences must underpin future public health responses. By integrating knowledge across sectors, One Health strengthens our ability to predict, prevent, and control the threats of emerging infectious diseases in an interconnected world.
