One Health Movement News / One Health Topics 'in' the News

This online course provides an opportunity for veterinary, medical/public health professionals, and students to refresh and gain knowledge of key zoonotic diseases of companion animals. It is approved for 10 hours of CE for veterinarians or veterinary technicians in jurisdictions that recognize AAVSB RACE approval. All participants receive a copy of the book by the same title as the course

"On the surface, it might seem like we had a really mild flu season.  As 2015 came to a close and most were making plans for the New Year, more than 13,000 people were tested for seasonal influenza A in a single week. Of those, 157 were positive, and one additional novel A infection was confirmed, reflecting an unusually low level of human influenza activity across the nation so far this season.

However, animals haven’t been quite so lucky.  Last year saw a number of influenza A outbreaks in several different species, including horses, dogs, birds and pigs. 

Outbreaks that start in an animal population might not stay there.   One Health, the concept that animal, human and environmental health are connected,  can help us work more effectively with partners across different disciplines, such as doctors, veterinarians, ecologists, and public health experts, to identify and address emerging threats to health that start in animal populations.  

Global ecologic research has confirmed that influenza A viruses are especially likely to make the jump from animal to human hosts.  Influenza A viruses are able to mutate easily causing large-scale or even global outbreaks. They are responsible for all six historical pandemics and the only flu strain with the capability to present such a threat in the future."

"A case of anthrax has been confirmed in a cow on a farm in Wiltshire, Public Health England has said.

This case was "rapidly detected" after the death of the animal in Westbury last week. The cow has been incinerated and movement restrictions are in place.

Public Health England said any risk of infection to those who were in close contact with the animal was "very low".

Anthrax is a bacterial disease which primarily affects grazing animals, although all mammals are susceptible."

"This is an exciting partnership, aligning the small companion animal veterinary community with the major international organizations spearheading global rabies control programs.  More news of our joint plans to follow soon!

GARC offers free online education programs including the Rabies Educator Certificate (REC) aimed at anyone working in communities where rabies is prevalent.   If you work in rabies control, do check it out!"

At a Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt the OIE, WHO and FAO, often referred to as the One Health Tripartite,  presented a consensus document on global measures needed to coordinate medical and veterinary health policies more effectively, taking into account new requirements to prevent and control zoonoses. (with the support of UNICEF, the UN System Influenza Coordinator [UNSIC] and the World Bank).