Geneva, 3 November 2025.- Today, World Approach Day « Only one health » (One Health Day), the need for an integrated and unifying approach to health is highlighted. This concept recognizes that the health of humans, animals and ecosystems is closely linked and interdependent. The facts are alarming: 60 per cent of the emerging infectious diseases identified are of animal origin, and of the 30 new pathogens detected over the past 30 years, 75 per cent come from animals. The adoption of this strategy is not only a health requirement, but also an economic imperative: the World Bank estimates the expected benefits to be at least US$37 billion a year, while annual spending on prevention accounts for less than 10% of this amount.
The proliferation of health crises, such as the VOCID-19 pandemic, has highlighted the cost of neglect. Since 2003, the world has recorded more than 15 million human deaths and $4,000 billion in economic losses due to diseases and pandemics. Fragmentation of ecosystems caused by human activities is the main driver of the emergence and spread of diseases. These stressors include urbanization, animal trade, intensive agriculture, livestock farming, habitat fragmentation and critical climate change. Approach « Only one health » This applies to a wide range of issues, including Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), zoonoses (Ebola, avian influenza, rabies), vector-borne diseases (maludism, dengue) and food safety.
Challenges and requirements for collaboration
Despite the urgency, the implementation of the « Only one health » is confronted with major structural changes necessary to integrate the fields of human, animal and environmental health. Key gaps include the lack of databases for information sharing, the lack of a model for an integrated monitoring system and a more complete understanding of the factors behind zoonoses transmission. To address these gaps, intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration is essential. The aim is to establish routine and urgent coordination to prevent, detect and address new and complex health problems.
A unified global framework
En réponse à cette nécessité, l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS) est le fer de lance de l’effort, notamment au sein du Quadripartite « Une seule santé « , aux côtés de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO), de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (OMSA), anciennement connue sous le nom l’Office international des épizooties (OIE), et d’ONU-Environnement. Ces organisations ont élaboré un Plan d’action conjoint « Une seule santé » pour consolider l’infrastructure et le financement nécessaires au niveau national. De plus, l’OMS assure le secrétariat du Groupe d’experts de haut niveau « Une seule santé » (OHHLEP), qui fournit des avis scientifiques et des recommandations, y compris pour l’élaboration de lignes directrices sur les bonnes pratiques et l’atténuation des risques. Cette structure vise à renforcer les programmes nationaux pour une meilleure santé mondiale.
W.A.
