The “One World — One Medicine — One Health” (or just “One Health” for short) initiative is an international multi-disciplinary approach to the maintenance of human, animal, and environmental health. It was created in the effort to facilitate the collaboration between those involved in human heath care, veterinary medicine, and other scientific health-related disciplines. The initiative has been endorsed by numerous individuals within these areas of expertise and by many of the major organizations which represent them.
This monograph in Veterinaria Italiana entitled, “‘One Health — One Medicine’ — linking human, animal and environmental health,” is a compilation of thirteen articles on a wide range of topics within the scope of the “One Health” initiative. For the most part, the articles describe strategies previously employed by those working on the “One Health” initiative, and propose novel solutions for future challenges. Overall, the monograph serves to illustrate the scientific progress achieved thus far by this interdisciplinary group of professionals.
Veterinarians with an interest in zoonotic disease might find most interesting the articles which describe specific outbreaks in different countries in terms of surveillance strategies and methods of information sharing employed. Some of these are essentially “lessons-learned” types of analyses and others are infectious disease status updates. Historical perspectives and profiles are found in some of the articles, which may prove interesting to veterinary history buffs. Veterinarians might find the articles on plant and ecosystem health to be less relevant to their line of work, but indeed these are interesting pieces which provide a context for some of the other articles in terms of environmental challenges, most notably the toxicology case studies and the discussion on cross-kingdom pathogens.
Tuberculosis as a re-emerging zoonosis is discussed in-depth, and the role of companion animals in disease modelling is also explored. Practical methods of employing the “One Health” concept are offered in one article, which also emphasizes the importance of implementing this initiative in developing nations.
This monograph is particularly recommended for veterinarians with a special interest in zoonoses and public health, and it will serve as a good current reference as to the state of the “One Health” initiative. It should prove to be a diverse, interesting read for anyone who is interested in a global perspective on the interdisciplinary health issues faced in our current era.