One Health

© FAO Simon Maina

Zoonoses

Zoonotic diseases, or zoonoses, are diseases shared between animals – including livestock, wildlife, and pets – and people. They can pose serious risks to both animal and human health and may have far-reaching impacts on economies and livelihoods. Zoonotic diseases are commonly spread at the human-animal-environment interface – where people and animals interact with each other in their shared environment. Zoonotic diseases can be foodborne, waterborne, or vector-borne, or transmitted through direct contact with animals, or indirectly by fomites or environmental contamination. Examples include, Rift Valley Fever, MERS-CoV, and some strains of Avian Influenza. 

One Health approach
Health issues at the human-animal-environment interface cannot be effectively addressed by one sector alone. Collaboration across all sectors and disciplines responsible for health is required to address zoonotic diseases and other shared health threats at the human-animal-environment interface. This approach to collaboration is referred to as One Health.

⦿ A zoonosis is any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans.

⦿ 60 percent of all human infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin and some 75 percent jump species.

⦿ There are over 200 known types of zoonoses.

Highlights
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Highlights
One Health approach to rabies
03/07/2024

Rabies is a deadly viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans through bites or scratches. There is no cure for rabies once symptoms...

Publications
Guidance for One Health field epidemiology workforce development
16/05/2024

FAO, WHO and WOAH release the first-ever global guidance to develop One Health field epidemiology competencies to support workforce development...

Highlights
One Planet, One Health: Five of the issues FAO is tackling through the One Health approach
05/04/2024

The One Health approach recognizes this intricate web of life. Designed to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems sustainably,...

Highlights
One Health: A healthy future for forests
20/03/2024

How can the One Health approach offer a holistic solution to safeguard our precious forests?

© Brent Stirton/Getty Images for FAO, CIRAD, CIFOR, WCS
Highlights
Pandemic Fund Second Call: FAO underlines its commitment to supporting countries to strengthen a One Health approach to pandemic prevention
07/03/2024

FAO will support countries and regional bodies to develop proposals in support of national, regional and global efforts in preventing, preparing, and...

Highlights
The wildlife–livelihoods–health nexus: challenges and priorities in Asia and the Pacific
04/03/2024

The interplay between the wildlife–health and livelihoods nexus in the Asia-Pacific region is currently at a critical juncture, requiring immediate...

Publications
Global technical consultation on the strategic framework for early warning of animal health threats
05/2024

To support countries in the prevention and management of losses caused by animal diseases is working to develop a strategic framework for early warning...

Global strategy for the prevention and control of high pathogenic avian influenza (2024–2033)
05/2024

This four-pager document provides a high-level strategic direction to support and inform the development or revision of national and regional action...

Making food systems work for people and planet UN Food Systems Summit +2 - Report of the Secretary-General
07/2023

The UN Food Systems Summit of 2021 (UNFSS) projected a vision, in which the transformation of food systems through profound shifts across production,...