One Health: A holistic approach to protecting humans, animals, plants, and our environment

Did the COVID-19 pandemic prove the need for a One Health approach? 

COVID-19 most likely originated in wildlife animals and transmitted to humans to become the worst pandemic in more than 100 years. It was a clear case in point of how interdependent animal and human health are. More than 60% of emerging infectious diseases come from animals (zoonoses), both wild and domestic. In the last three decades over 30 new human pathogens have been detected, 75% of which have originated in animals. 

COVID-19 is not the only example. Changes in climate and biodiversity bring emerging diseases, as recent cases of dengue fever in Europe show. Last summer we saw outbreaks of avian influenza in pet cats, infected with a virus that was probably transmitted by birds. And we know that pollutants negatively affect human, animal and plant health, as well as our ecosystems. These are just some examples of where the only solution lies in a One Health approach, which recognises the connections between animal, human and environmental health and calls for collaboration, action and brainstorming across all sectors.  

What have we learned from the pandemic?  

We clearly need enhanced surveillance and early warning systems wherever there is a human-animal-plant-environment interface. This will allow us to prevent, detect or minimise risks much more quickly and effectively.  

COVID-19 showed the need for strong prevention and response systems to deal with health crises – and these need to be built long before the crisis ever arises. Investing in the health of humans, animals and plants, and safeguarding our environment, is critical for preventing future health threats. Our focus on One Health is a clear sign of our determination to learn from the pandemic to better prepare for future health threats, building on our experience of implementing this approach in areas such as the fight against antimicrobial resistance.  

Why does the One Health policy place so much importance on tackling antimicrobial resistance? 

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest health threats of our time, as leaders across the EU are increasingly aware. Maltese Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne says that in about 10 years, 9 out of 10 hospital acquired bacterial infections will be multi-resistant, which will make it more dangerous to get treatment in a hospital in 2035 than staying at home. In Europe we can no longer speak about a “silent pandemic” when we have more than 35 000 people (and it now seems clearly underestimated) dying to antibiotic resistant infections every year in the EU, over 1 million years of life lost each year, and about €1.5 billion annually of costs to healthcare systems. 

AMR mainly results from the overuse or misuse of antibiotics both in human and veterinary medicine. The irresponsible use of antimicrobials in farmed animals can contaminate our food, soil, and water. We need a multi-pronged approach to face this threat, which is why we proposed a Council Recommendation to combat AMR, adopted last June, which calls for a 20% reduction of our antibiotic consumption by 2030, among other measures. 

Let’s be clear, to reach these targets we need to step up our communication efforts: we need “champions” on AMR to raise awareness amongst the public.  

The “good” news is that every euro invested in a mixed policy package across the health and food sectors, generates returns equivalent to 5 EUR in economic benefits.  

How is the Commission promoting the One Health approach? 

The approach itself involves various sectors, and so does our work to promote it. We are active in many ways, including by supporting research into zoonotic diseases and how they spread, formulating policies to combat anti-microbial resistance, and encouraging collaboration between the health, agriculture, aquaculture, climate, and environmental sectors. We are also working to strengthen early warning and surveillance systems across Member States, so we can swiftly detect and respond to emerging health threats.  

The creation of our new One Health Directorate last year is also part of this effort and gives a clear sign of its importance within the European Commission. We are collaborating with all colleagues responsible for public health and animal and plant health policies, as well as for food safety and sustainability, both in DG SANTE and in other DGs and EU agencies, as well as with experts in international organisations and with many stakeholders.    

Does the One Health approach extend beyond the EU?

Yes, that’s another lesson learned from the pandemic. Health threats rarely remain within national borders, particularly given the extent of global travel and trade. That’s why we are working closely with the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Environment Programme to promote a unified, One Health approach on the global stage.  

One Health is the pillar of the Global Health Strategy that the Commission put forward in 2022 and is very much part of the international Pandemic Agreement that is currently under negotiation. We have been championing this approach in G7, G20, at the UN General Assembly and elsewhere.   

Many of these organisations took part in this week’s high-level conference on ‘One Health’ to present and discuss practical examples of One Health collaboration, both within the EU and internationally, and to reflect on the future of the One Health approach. By sharing experiences and data, we hope to identify any additional actions that need to be taken to strengthen our preparedness and resilience to highly complex health challenges.