Working Together for One Health

One Health is the idea that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. Learn why One Health is important and how, by working together, we can achieve the best health for everyone.

We’re All Connected

Did you know that animals and humans often can be affected by many of the same diseases and environmental issues? Some diseases, called zoonotic diseases, can be spread between animals and people. More than half of all infections people can get can be spread by animals – a few examples include rabies, Salmonella, and West Nile virus. Environmental issues like harmful algal blooms or lead contamination also can affect the health of both people and animals. Antimicrobial resistance is another emerging threat to the health of people and animals, and resistant germs often spread through our shared environment.

As Earth’s population grows, our connection with animals and the environment changes: people live closer together, travel more often around the globe, alter the environment, and have different relationships with animals for companionship, education, food, and more. All of these changes can make it easier for diseases to spread between animals and people. Because of these interactions, animals also can sometimes serve as early warning signals of potential human outbreaks. Tracking diseases in animals helps to keep domestic and wild animals healthy, and also can help prevent illnesses and disease outbreaks in people.

Salmonella infections have been linked to contact with live poultry in backyard flocks, pet guinea pigs, reptiles like lizards and turtles, as well as other pets. People can get sick with Salmonella by touching these animals or through contact with the animal’s environment, including coops, cages, and other habitats.
Wild water birds are hosts to many Influenza A viruses that do not normally infect people but can infect and spread among domestic poultry. Some of these bird viruses can be passed to humans through contact with infected animals or virus contaminated environments. Avian influenza A (H7N9) and H5N1 viruses are examples of bird flu viruses that are known to infect people. Other influenza A viruses also infect and spread in pigs, and there have been sporadic infections in people with these viruses.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is caused by a virus that is spread by mosquitoes, and has caused multiple outbreaks in Africa and the Middle East. People can get RVF from bites of infected mosquitoes, but more commonly people are infected through contact with blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected animals, mainly livestock. RVF can cause serious disease in both people and animals. Vaccinating animals can help protect people while also protecting the animals they rely on for food and as a source of income.
Harmful algal bloom (HAB)-related illnesses can occur when algae and other plant-like organisms in water produce toxins. Algal blooms can occur in fresh, brackish, and salt water, and they become HABs when the algae grow quickly and can harm animals, people, or the environment.