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.