Reinforcing the case for a One Health approach
The Hindu·3h ago·Positivity
What Happened
The One Health approach, which emphasizes interconnectedness between humans, animals, and the environment, has gained international traction following the COVID-19 pandemic. The concept, officially termed in 2003-2004 during SARS emergence, recognizes that most novel infectious diseases originate in animals due to human activities like deforestation and urbanization. The WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted May 2025 establishes frameworks for pathogen data sharing and equitable vaccine access. Four organizations—WHO, FAO, UNEP, and WOAH—lead international One Health implementation efforts.
Key Entities
One HealthCOVID-19 pandemicWHOFAOUNEPWorld Organisation for Animal HealthWHO Pandemic AgreementSARS-CoV-2Manhattan Principles