Women in a rural community in Bangladesh participate in Upazila-to-Community mapping exercises to understand the epidemiology of poultry diseases.

On November 3, the world is celebrating International One Health Day. This year’s outbreaks of Ebola in DR Congo, Nipah in India, plague in Madagascar and the start of influenza season remind us that human health is tied to both animal and environmental health. Through the One Health approach, multiple disciplines work together to attain the best health for people, animals and the environment. Most human diseases are zoonotic in nature, meaning they come from animals or animal byproducts. In fact, 60 percent of existing human diseases and 75 percent of new human diseases are caused by zoonotic pathogens, making the One Health approach critical for human health.

Today, due to rapid city and population growth, a changing climate, booming businesses, and the expansion of the livestock industry, animals and humans live in closer proximity than ever before. This means that zoonotic diseases are on the rise. In an increasingly interconnected world, a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere.

Since 2005, USAID has been a leader in prevention, detection and response to disease outbreaks that have the potential to become pandemic. By partnering with other U.S. Government agencies and multilateral, bilateral, national, nongovernmental and private-sector players, the Agency implements activities to promote Global Health Security for all through its Emerging Pandemic Threats Program.

Learn more about how we promote One Health approaches through:

• Workforce Development: preparing current and future professionals in Africa and Southeast Asia to work across a variety of sectors and disciplines to mitigate zoonotic and infectious disease health threats.
• Surveillance: strengthening country capacities to prevent, detect and respond to the spread of H5N1 avian influenza and other zoonotic pathogens among livestock, wild bird populations, and humans. Working with partners to increase understanding of what drives disease outbreaks.
• Collaboration: encouraging collaboration across sectors to prevent and manage disease outbreaks.

Get involved and join the conversation:

• Follow @USAIDGH and use #OneHealthDay to learn about efforts globally
• Follow the conversation next week during the #GHSA2024 Ministerial to learn more about how #OneHealth contributes on #GlobalHealthSecurity

Photo credit: Habibur Rahman/FAO