One Health Concept

The One Health concept is summarized by the World Organization of Animal Health as human health and animal health are interdependent and bound to the health of the ecosystems in which they exist .

The origin of the concept can be traced to Hippocrates treatise On Airs, Waters and Places in which he had urged physicians to consider all aspects of patients lives including their environment since the disease was a result of the imbalance between man and environment.

One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes by recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.

There are numerous examples to show how the health of people is related to the health of animals and the environment. Similarly, Animals also share our susceptibility to some diseases and environmental hazards. As a result, animals can serve as early warning signs of potential human illness.

Renewed Interest

Even though it is not a new concept, it has become more important in recent years owing to the fact that many factors have changed interactions between people, animals, and our environment. These changes have led to the emergence and reemergence of many diseases.