One Health

Animal health, human health and environmental health are inextricably intertwined and interdependent. The health of one affects the health of all. The COVID-19 pandemic – a human health crisis of likely animal origin – has underlined the importance of the One Health concept. An Australian One Health framework for Disease Prevention and Control – similar in concept to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the US and other nations - is needed for prevention and response to future pandemics, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and new and emerging infectious diseases such as Hendra virus. This will provide cost effective management of communicable and non-communicable diseases as well as other problems with local, regional and global impact. It will also place the profession within this framework.