PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Thursday May 22, 2014

One Health: past successes and future challenges in three African contexts

Reference: Okello AL, Bardosh K, Smith J, Welburn SC (2014) One Health: past successes and future challenges in three African contexts. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 8(5): e2884. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002884

http://www.plosntds.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pntd.0002884

Author Summary

“The One Health movement requires more robust evidence around its practical implementation if it is to truly become a way forwards for addressing health issues at the human, animal and ecosystem interface. The research in this paper discusses some of the recent successes and challenges with both Emerging and Neglected zoonoses in the sub-Saharan Africa context. Through speaking to various human and animal health practitioners and policy makers in Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania, the authors have created three case studies highlighting the various successes of the approach to date, but also clarifying areas where the approach will take longer to implement, often as a result of the wide institutional and policy changes required in many countries. The authors conclude that whilst the “goodwill” is certainly there, the reality of planning, executing and budgeting for joint interventions – particularly at the national or regional level – proves in many cases more difficult than first thought. It is hoped however that through gaining better insight from those charged with the decision-making in these countries, One Health practitioners will be encouraged to build on the momentum through addressing some of the issues that arise with its implementation.”

Center of Excellence for zoonotic and animal diseases (CEEZAD)

CEEZAD One Health Bulletin #4: The Spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Read complete article at http://www.ceezad.org/resources/index.html

May 20, 2014

“Since the emergence of the first known case of MERS-CoV in a human in Jordan in April 2012, as noted in the CEEZAD One Health Bulletin #2 below, this RNA virus has puzzled virologists, epidemiologists and public health officials. What is the source of the virus? How does the virus spread? Does this virus have pandemic potential? The answer to each of these three questions is still much debated, but understanding of the virus is increasing on a daily basis because of extensive international surveillance, monitoring, laboratory investigation and public health care. However, MERS-CoV has now been found in humans in 14 countries-9 in the Middle East, as well as Greece, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Philippines and the USA, as visitors to the Middle East have contacted the virus and returned to their home countries. With more than 600 confirmed laboratory cases of MERS-CoV, and a death rate of approximately 30%, it should be noted that 514 of these cases and 160 deaths have been in Saudi Arabia. …”

Provided by:

Robert E. Kahn, PhD

Education Consultant

College of Veterinary Medicine

Kansas State University

Dr. Kahn is a longstanding One Health supporter/advocate http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/supporters.php.

United States Department of Agriculture – Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS)

One Health Food Safety Memorandum of Understanding between USDA-FSIS and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Federal Agencies Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Leverage Expertise during Foodborne Outbreak Investigations

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-and-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2014/nr-051914-01

 WASHINGTON, May 19, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will provide a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to address foodborne health hazards associated with meat, poultry and processed egg products.

The MOU is part of the One Health initiative, a concept that inextricably links the health of humans, animals and the environment. It embraces the idea that a disease impacting the health of humans, animals and the environment can be best solved through improved communication, cooperation and collaboration across disciplines and institutions. “The FSIS investigation process identifies health hazards in meat and poultry products, and this agreement leverages the expertise of personnel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to complement that process,” said FSIS Administrator Al Almanza.

The MOU outlines mutual roles and responsibilities for the training of personnel and the planning of interagency assessment of FSIS-regulated establishments as part of foodborne illness investigations and health hazard evaluations. The MOU does not modify any existing interagency collaborative work, which includes illness cluster and outbreak investigations.

“Our agencies work together on foodborne outbreak investigations to identify the source of illnesses and conduct epidemiologic studies. This memorandum will enhance opportunities for us to participate in assessments of FSIS-regulated establishments and other health hazards evaluations,” said Robin Ikeda, Deputy Director of CDC’s Office of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injury and Environmental Health.

“This agreement builds on the current working relationship between our agencies with respect to food safety and reaffirms our mutual commitment to a multidisciplinary approach to conducting foodborne disease investigations,” said Beth P. Bell, MD, MPH, Director of CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.  

As part of the MOU, FSIS personnel have completed training selected epidemiologists, environmental health scientists and other subject matter experts within the ATSDR, the National Center for Environmental Health and the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.

The training focused on FSIS statutes, regulations and investigation process. In addition, training included an in-plant food safety assessment. Following the implementation of the MOU, the trained CDC/ATSDR personnel will be available to assist FSIS in the interpretation of epidemiological data to identify the possible causes of contamination.

To read the MOU, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/f09a7013-bb5b-4a2f-bb67-2a61928f77c9/MOU-FSIS-CDC-ATSDR.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.

Last Modified May 19, 2014

One Health approach is essential!

How to fight MERS and other zoonotic diseases

*Laura H. Kahn, MD, MPH, MPP, columnist - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

 “Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has sickened at least 495 people, killed 141, and now popped up in the United States, has much in common with other recent outbreaks, including SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which killed some 775 patients in 2002 and 2003: They can spread rapidly across borders, stir up fear in the public, and be transmitted from human to human.

The most important shared characteristic of ailments like MERS, SARS, Ebola, avian influenza, West Nile virus, and even diseases of bioterrorism like anthrax, though, is the fact that they are zoonotic: That is, they originate in animals and then spread to humans. And this fact points the way to fighting them. Only through a “One Health” approach, which treats human and animal health as all part of the same system, can they be prevented. …”

Please read entire column by clicking this link http://thebulletin.org/how-fight-mers-and-other-zoonotic-diseases7159 or the attached HTM view.

*Dr. Kahn, a physician, is a founding member of the One Health Initiative team/One Health Initiative website.  She is also a widely published internationally renowned One Health leader and expert on the subject.

A new Promotional published in The Lancet…in need of revision!

Entitled “From public to planetary health: a manifesto” http://preview.smartfocusdigital.com/go.asp?/.2014.digitalmarketing.planetaryhealth.homepage/bELA001&utm_source=blank&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=

            *  *  *  *  *

In respectful opposition, the One Health Initiative Autonomous pro bono team, Laura H. Kahn, MD, MPH, MPP ▪ Bruce Kaplan, DVM ▪ Thomas P. Monath, MD ▪ Jack Woodall, PhD ▪ Lisa A. Conti, DVM, MPH (and others) refused a request to become signatories and submitted a Letter-to-the-Editor of The Lancet http://www.thelancet.com/ explaining why.  Please see below:

Published in The Lancet’s Correspondence: www.thelancet.com Vol 383 April 26, 2014—Page 1459 (see OHI team letter below):

Planetary health(1) needs One Health. One Health is a concept that recognizes the links between human, animal, and environmental health. These factors must be incorporated and integrated before planetary health can be achieved.

The One Health concept promotes multidisciplinary collaborations between physicians, veterinarians, environmental specialists, and other health-related professions. Support for One Health has increased substantially and must be embraced and implemented globally.(2)

Regrettably, Richard Horton and colleagues’ manifesto for planetary health excludes One Health;(1) as such, it is incomplete and ineffectual. It does not adequately address the overwhelming environmental threats to the sustainability of human civilisation. Our planet is rapidly sickening because of anthropogenic causes, but planetary health for humanity is impossible without including animal, environmental, and ecosystem health.(3) About 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic; many emerge because of environmental destruction.(4)

We must recognise that planetary health equals human, animal, environmental, and ecosystem health.  Achieving planetary health requires implemention of the One Health concept globally.

We declare that we have no competing interests.

*Laura H Kahn, Bruce Kaplan, Thomas Monath, Jack Woodall, Lisa Conti

lkahn@princeton.edu

Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Science and Global Security, Princeton, NJ 08542, USA (LHK);

Retired, Sarasota, FL, USA (BK);

PaxVax, Menlo Park, CA, USA (TM);

Retired, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (JW); and

One Health Initiative, Tallahassee, FL, USA (LC)

1 Horton R, Beaglehole R, Bonita R, Raeburn J, McKee M, Wall S. From public to planetary health: a manifesto. Lancet 2014; 383: 847.

2 Fisman DN, Laupland KB. The ‘One Health’ paradigm: time for infectious diseases clinicians to take note? Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2010; 21: 111–14.

3 Kahn LH. Protecting the environment in the Anthropocene. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Dec 22, 2013. http://thebulletin.org/ protecting-environment-anthropocene (accessed April 9, 2014).

4 Robbins J. The ecology of disease. The New York Times. July 14, 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/sunday-review/theecology-of-disease.html (accessed April 9, 2014).

One Health item Worth repeating…Originally posted Friday, January 24, 2014.

Landmark CDC Report Details Threat of 'Postantibiotic Era'

http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/threat-report-2013/pdf/ar-threats-2013-508.pdf

Please note below a potential One Health visionary approach to ameliorating this dangerous international health threat (posted One Health Initiative website NEWS October 9, 2013):

Vaccines against diseases transmitted from animals to humans: A one health paradigm

http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/publications/Thomas%20P.%20Monath,%20MD%20Sept%202013%20One%20Health%20Vaccine%20Article.pdf

“In simple terms, the idea is to develop vaccines that protect domestic animals and wildlife thereby establishing effective barriers against human infections.  Developing animal vaccines are less expensive and are less strictly regulated than are those for humans.  Hopefully a common sense One Health approach can go forward.”

A One Health issue…

WHO’s first global report on antibiotic resistance reveals serious, worldwide threat to public health

New WHO report provides the most comprehensive picture of antibiotic resistance to date, with data from 114 countries

News release

30 April 2014 | Geneva - A new report by WHO–its first to look at antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotic resistance, globally–reveals that this serious threat is no longer a prediction for the future, it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country. Antibiotic resistance–when bacteria change so antibiotics no longer work in people who need them to treat infections–is now a major threat to public health. …

Please read entire news release at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/amr-report/en/ or click on attachment.

Seeing the Forest for the Trees: How “One Health” Connects Humans, Animals, and Ecosystems

Wendee Nicole, MS, Wildlife Ecology

Freelance Writer * Photographer * Bohemian

Web:  http://www.wendeenicole.com

Adventures Blog: http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com

Writing Green ~ online class  http://www.wendeenicole.com/nature.htm

Published in Environmental Health Perspectives • volume 122 | number 5 | May 2014

… “The History of One Health

The connection between animal and human health was recognized even in ancient times; later, nineteenth-century physician Rudolf Virchow coined the term “zoonosis,” writing that “between animal and human medicine there are no dividing lines—nor should there be.” In the late twentieth century epidemiologist Calvin Schwabe first proposed the idea of “One Medicine” encompassing both human and animal health. But medicine has since lost sight of the forest for the trees, now even to the point of focusing on individual leaves, says *Laura Kahn, a physician and research scholar at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

“A schism has been developing in medicine for decades,” Kahn says: Should it focus strictly on individual care or more broad-based population-level health? Shortly after the anthrax attacks following 9/11, Kahn was reading the veter­inary medicine literature and found herself struck by how many diseases of bioterrorism are—like anthrax—zoonotic. “Yet I discovered that [people working in] veterinary and human medicine and agriculture rarely talk to one another,” she says. “We’re trying to deal with new twenty-first-century challenges using outdated twentieth-century paradigms.” …

Please read entire article http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/122-a122/ or http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/122/5/ehp.122-A122.pdf

or click on attachment.

Provided to One Health Initiative website by:

Susan M. Booker

News Editor, Environmental Health Perspectives

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

919-541-1587

 http://www.ehp.niehs.nih.gov     

*Dr. Kahn is a founding member of the One Health Initiative Autonomous pro bono Team: Laura H. Kahn, MD, MPH, MPP ▪ Bruce Kaplan, DVM ▪ Thomas P. Monath, MD ▪ Jack Woodall, PhD ▪ Lisa A. Conti, DVM, MPH

“The business case for One Health”

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 81(2), 6 pages – Open Access

This article outlines a pathway to develop the business case for One Health. It describes the origin and development of One Health and then identifies five potential areas where One Health can add value and reduce costs. These are: (1) sharing health resources between the medical and veterinary sectors; (2) controlling zoonoses in animal reservoirs; (3) early detection and response to emerging diseases; (4) prevention of pandemics; and (5) generating insights and adding value to health research and development. Examples are given for each category along with preliminary estimates of the potential savings from adopting the One Health approach. The literature reviewed suggests that one dollar invested in One Health can generate five dollars worth of benefits and a global investment of US$25 billion over 10 years could generate benefits worth at least US$125 billion. Conservation implications: the time has come to make the bigger case for massive investment in One Health in order to transform the management of neglected and emerging zoonoses and to save the lives of millions of people and hundreds of millions of animals whose production supports and nourishes billions of impoverished people per annum.

 http://www.ojvr.org/index.php/ojvr/article/view/725/993

Global Health Fellows Program II – United States Agency for International Development

Technical Advisor III: Senior Livestock Technical Advisor

Technical Assistance Group, Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, United States Agency for International Development

Location: Washington, DC

Assignment: Two year fellowship

GHFP-II-P3-109

“The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency’s immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual working planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.

Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency’s ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health. …”

Please read complete notice by clicking on attachment.

Provided to One Health Initiative website April 23, 2014 by:

Jennifer Russell

Recruitment Coordinator

The Global Health Fellows Program/The Public Health Institute

https://www.ghfp.net/

jrussell@ghfp.net