ONE HEALTH DAY
One Health Day – November 3
Recognizing the interconnectedness between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment is paramount to addressing some of the multidimensional challenges that emerging and re-emerging diseases impose to public health globally. Zoonotic diseases are becoming a growing health threat worldwide, with increasing reports of outbreaks in diverse regions. Raising awareness and advocacy for One Health is a key step towards promoting a holistic human and animal health approach. We at ISID recognize that the One health approach is key as one of our signature programs, ProMED is one of the only emerging disease surveillance networks that covers humans, animals, and plants as well as their interactions. Also, our open-access International Journal of Infectious Diseases One Health aims to ensure a broader reach by crossing disciplines and addressing the interaction of human, animal and environmental health.
Resources
The recent COVID-19 pandemic and the monkeypox global outbreak among other health threats point to the spread of diseases from animals to humans in an ever-increasing fragile environment. All these are a call to action to further develop and apply One Health at local, national, regional, and international levels. As we prepare for what the future brings in an increasingly interconnected world, communication, sharing knowledge and concerted collaborative action by partners working at the human, animal and environmental levels is key in mitigating these threats.
Written by ISID Emerging Leader, Rajiv Sarkar
In a recently concluded infectious disease meeting, the conference kit included a COVID-19 home test kit and a mask. This reflects a new normal, as we resume our daily lives post-pandemic and learn to live with the virus. The pandemic has also brought to fore interconnectedness between humans, animals and their shared environment, and emphasized the importance of One Health. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines One Health as a “collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach” at all levels (local, regional, national and global) “with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes” by “recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment."
The International Journal of Infectious Diseases One Health (IJID OH) is a new publication joining the stable of publications from The International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID): the well-established International Journal of Infectious Diseases (IJID) and the newer International Journal of Infectious Diseases Regions (IJID Regions).
One Health Day is a time to raise awareness of the integrated approach to sustainably balancing and optimizing the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. The One Health approach recognizes that these are interconnected, meaning that threats to one can quickly become threats to all.
Moderator:
- Dr. Lucille Blumberg, MD, Editor in Chief of IJID One Health, will provide an exclusive look into the journal's mission and vision. Discover how it serves as a platform for advancing One Health research and solutions.
Speakers:
- Professor Wanda Markotter, Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria. South Africa - Understanding bat-borne virus spillover in Southern Africa following a One Health approach.
- Professor Alessandra Scagliarini (DVM, PhD), University of Bologna, Department of Specialized Diagnostics and Experimental Medicine, Bologna, Italy - Beyond Mpox-viewing poxviruses through a One Health lens
- Dr. Jennifer Bloodgood, Assistant Professor of Practice Public & Ecosystem Health Department of Public & Ecosystem Health Cornell University
This webinar is designed for researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and anyone passionate about the critical intersection of infectious diseases, human health, and environmental health.
Written by ISID Emerging Leader, Fatima Aziz
Human, animal, and environmental health are inextricably linked in today's globalized society. This interconnection is acknowledged by the One Health concept, which advocates for a comprehensive understanding and management of health conditions. One Health highlights the necessity of cooperation across sectors and specialties to safeguard the health of all living things, from zoonotic diseases to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). One Health helps to identify and address these diseases more efficiently by promoting collaboration among veterinarians, physicians, environmental scientists, and other stakeholders. The emergence of diseases such as COVID-19 has underscored the critical necessity for a thorough strategy that extends beyond simply responding to outbreaks and instead aims to prevent them entirely. One crucial aspect of the One Health approach is understanding the impact of environmental factors on human and animal health.
Written by ISID Emerging Leader, Dr. Gültekin Ünal
One Health Framework Implementations — The One Health approach recognizes that human, animal, and environmental health are interdependent. Addressing global health challenges—such as pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and ecosystem degradation—requires collaboration across these sectors. Nearly 60% of known infectious diseases and 75% of emerging ones are zoonotic, most originating in wildlife. Historical and modern outbreaks, including the Black Death, 1918 influenza, Ebola, and COVID-19, illustrate how disruptions at the human–animal interface can cascade into global crises.
In celebration of One Health Day 2025, we are pleased to invite you to watch the on-demand version of the IJID One Health webinar, From Farmyard to Regional Networks: Strengthening One Health. Watch and listen to leading experts as they share their insights on how the One Health approach links human, animal, and environmental health through collaboration to prevent and control diseases that cross species and borders.
Presenters:
- Growing a Regional One Health Network – Presented by Professor David Durrheim, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Australia
- From Farm to Clinic: Managing Zoonotic TB Using a One Health Perspective – Presented by Professor Alessandra Scagliarini, Università di Bologna, Italy
- Q&A Session
The session is moderated by Dr. Lucille Blumberg, Editor-in-Chief of IJID One Health.