What is the One Health approach?
One Health is defined by the One Health High Level Expert Panel as an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.
It recognises the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent. In today’s interconnected world this approach is essential to prevent, prepare for and respond to global threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Population growth and expansion have naturally led to an increase in contacts between humans, humans and wildlife, as well as domestic animals and wildlife.
These developments are reinforced by other factors, such as climate change, deforestation and intensive farming which destroy wild animals’ habitats. The movement of people, animals, and animal products, increased by globalisation, contributes to the start, and spread of zoonoses.
Zoonoses are infections that can be transmitted directly or indirectly between animals and humans. There are over 200 known zoonoses, the most reported in the EU being foodborne diseases like salmonella and campylobacteriosis. (ECDC 2021 Zoonoses report).
More than 60% of new and emerging infectious diseases that threaten human health originate in animal populations. These threats are significantly increasing in frequency and severity over time, with tremendous long-term impacts.
COVID-19 is the latest example of a major pandemic caused by a zoonotic pathogen. But there are many other zoonoses, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), zoonotic influenza (H5N1, H7N9, 2009 H1N1), Zika and Ebola virus diseases which have or could potentially cause epidemics in humans.
In addition, some of the bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi responsible for these diseases may develop resistance to available treatments and pose global health threats.
How does the One Health approach work?
An effective One Health approach requires cooperation and collaboration between relevant sectors and disciplines, such as agriculture, environment, human medicine, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, environmental and social sciences, governance, etc.
Professionals and representatives of these sectors should work together at national, regional, and international level to prevent, identify and monitor existing and emerging threats and reduce and stop their spread.
A One Health approach contributes to better human, animal and environmental health, as well improved food safety.
What is the European Commission doing?
As one of the main drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is the overuse of existing antimicrobials, the Commission has adopted the EU Guidelines on the prudent use of antimicrobials in human health and the EU Guidelines on the prudent use of antimicrobials in animal health to reduce the inappropriate use and promote careful use of antimicrobials in people and animals.
The Commission issues regular progress reports on the implementation of the 2017 Action Plan Against AMR.
Since 2017 EU’s response to AMR was further strengthened, among other initiatives, through:
- Regulation on veterinary medicinal products (2019)
- Regulation on the manufacture, placing on the market and use of medicated feed (2019)
- Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (2019)
- Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe (2020)
- numerous training activities on AMR topics for both Member States and non- EU countries through the Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) initiative
A recent major step forward is the adoption of the Pharmaceutical package on 26 April 2023, which include a proposal for a Council Recommendation on AMR containing a broad range of measures to combat AMR in the fields of human health, animal health and the environment, through a One Health approach.
The EU is committed to improving animal welfare legislation which will also contribute to the fight against AMR and improve the health of animals.
Zoonotic threats
The European Commission also supports a One Health approach when it comes to the prevention, preparedness, and response to zoonoses, especially major threats such as Avian influenza, West Nile Fever, Zika, Ebola, etc.
Prevention, robust surveillance, rapid detection and swift response are vital when dealing with serious cross-border health threats such as zoonoses. Through actions under the EU4Health programme the Commission is working towards developing integrated surveillance and prevention of zoonotic spill-overs as another important area where the One Health approach is critical.
One Health principles are deployed in many different policy areas of the Commission at European and international level and stretching beyond the fields of AMR and zoonoses control, like animal welfare, biodiversity, soil health, sustainable use of pesticides, climate and health, prevention, detection, and rapid response to future health emergencies. Relevant initiatives include in particular:
- the Farm to Fork Strategy (2020)
- the adoption of Regulations (EU) 2022/2371 (on serious cross-border threats to health), (EU) 2022/2370 (on ECDC) and (EU) 2022/123 (on EMA) (2022),
- the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), created in 2021 to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to health emergencies, including AMR related threats and other potential crises, and
- the Global Health Strategy (2022)
Climate change and health
Applying a One Health approach, in February 2021 the Commission launched the European Climate and Health Observatory. This is a partnership between the European Commission, the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and other organisations to allow policy and decision-makers to visualise climate change-related health risks and help them to act and respond to these risks.
