8th July 2020
Musings.......
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has reported that there will be a $9 trillion dollar loss for the World economy over two years due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The United Nations (UN) says that, to prevent the next pandemic, we the human race must change its relationship with nature. If not more viruses like COVID-19 would jump from animals to humans.
Human activity is a key driver of zoonotic epidemics -
- [ ] Destruction of nature - pushing different species into close proximity with humans, where viruses intermingle.
- [ ] Growing demand for meat - which is the reason for many animal diseases reaching humans.
A CDC report states that around 60% of new infectious diseases comes from animals !!
Even before COVID19, zoonotic diseases were killing 2 million people every year !
So these zoonotic diseases comes at a heavy price.
So both health wise and economy wise, it would be prudent to invest in preventing future pandemics.
This is where the UN recommended “ONE HEALTH” approach is gaining traction.
ONE HEALTH CONCEPT
The concept recognises that health of human beings is connected to health of animals and environment.
It is a collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally, to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment - as defined by One Health Initiative Task Force
This is not a new concept, but an internationally recognised model for diagnosis and control of zoonotic diseases. One health research is being promoted already by developed countries, for developing a sustainable disease control system. They use health analytics and data management tools for accurate results.
For example, the WHO is using One Health research to effectively address emerging issues of anti microbial resistance (AMR).
So why do we need a One Health Approach ?
- [ ] The world population is projected to grow from 7 billion in 2011 to 9 billion by 2050.
- [ ] Worldwide almost 75% of all emerging human infectious diseases in the past three decades originated in wild animals.
- [ ] Planetary environmental health may affect human and animal health through contamination, pollution and changing climate conditions that may lead to emergence of new infectious agents.
- [ ] To provide adequate healthcare, food and water for the growing global population, the health professionals and their related disciplines and institutions will have to work together.
A simple enough example would be - Prevention of Rabies in humans is effectively possible only by targeting the animal source of the virus ( vaccinating dogs).
Information on influenza viruses circulating in animals is crucial for the selection of virus for human vaccine.
Drug resistant microbes can be transmitted between animals and humans through direct contact between animals and humans or through contaminated food.
So to effectively contain this - a well coordinated approach in humans and in animals is required.
One Health is thus an approach to designing and implementing programmes, policies, legislation and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes.
Potential outcomes from this approach would be - ( one health commission findings )
- [ ] More interdisciplinary programmes in education, training, research and established policy.
- [ ] More information sharing related to disease detection, diagnosis, education and research
- [ ] More prevention of diseases, both infectious and chronic
- [ ] Development of new therapies and approaches to treatment.
This Coronavirus pandemic has been an eye opener for all. We are witnessing so called superpower governments struggle to contain this pandemic.
Human faith in Modern medicine is at an all time low. It is imperative that modern medicine adapts to the new normal and change research and treatment protocols as fast as possible.
Faith in Medicine could be temporarily restored with a Coronavirus vaccine in the short term, however in the long run, as we expect more such pandemics, we will have to adapt and One Health could be the first step towards the future.
Food for Thought
RC
rohitchennithala.blogspot.com
rohitchennithala.home.blog
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has reported that there will be a $9 trillion dollar loss for the World economy over two years due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The United Nations (UN) says that, to prevent the next pandemic, we the human race must change its relationship with nature. If not more viruses like COVID-19 would jump from animals to humans.
Human activity is a key driver of zoonotic epidemics -
- [ ] Destruction of nature - pushing different species into close proximity with humans, where viruses intermingle.
- [ ] Growing demand for meat - which is the reason for many animal diseases reaching humans.
A CDC report states that around 60% of new infectious diseases comes from animals !!
Even before COVID19, zoonotic diseases were killing 2 million people every year !
So these zoonotic diseases comes at a heavy price.
So both health wise and economy wise, it would be prudent to invest in preventing future pandemics.
This is where the UN recommended “ONE HEALTH” approach is gaining traction.
ONE HEALTH CONCEPT
The concept recognises that health of human beings is connected to health of animals and environment.
It is a collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally, to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment - as defined by One Health Initiative Task Force
This is not a new concept, but an internationally recognised model for diagnosis and control of zoonotic diseases. One health research is being promoted already by developed countries, for developing a sustainable disease control system. They use health analytics and data management tools for accurate results.
For example, the WHO is using One Health research to effectively address emerging issues of anti microbial resistance (AMR).
So why do we need a One Health Approach ?
- [ ] The world population is projected to grow from 7 billion in 2011 to 9 billion by 2050.
- [ ] Worldwide almost 75% of all emerging human infectious diseases in the past three decades originated in wild animals.
- [ ] Planetary environmental health may affect human and animal health through contamination, pollution and changing climate conditions that may lead to emergence of new infectious agents.
- [ ] To provide adequate healthcare, food and water for the growing global population, the health professionals and their related disciplines and institutions will have to work together.
A simple enough example would be - Prevention of Rabies in humans is effectively possible only by targeting the animal source of the virus ( vaccinating dogs).
Information on influenza viruses circulating in animals is crucial for the selection of virus for human vaccine.
Drug resistant microbes can be transmitted between animals and humans through direct contact between animals and humans or through contaminated food.
So to effectively contain this - a well coordinated approach in humans and in animals is required.
One Health is thus an approach to designing and implementing programmes, policies, legislation and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes.
Potential outcomes from this approach would be - ( one health commission findings )
- [ ] More interdisciplinary programmes in education, training, research and established policy.
- [ ] More information sharing related to disease detection, diagnosis, education and research
- [ ] More prevention of diseases, both infectious and chronic
- [ ] Development of new therapies and approaches to treatment.
This Coronavirus pandemic has been an eye opener for all. We are witnessing so called superpower governments struggle to contain this pandemic.
Human faith in Modern medicine is at an all time low. It is imperative that modern medicine adapts to the new normal and change research and treatment protocols as fast as possible.
Faith in Medicine could be temporarily restored with a Coronavirus vaccine in the short term, however in the long run, as we expect more such pandemics, we will have to adapt and One Health could be the first step towards the future.
Food for Thought
RC
rohitchennithala.blogspot.com
rohitchennithala.home.blog
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