As the World Health Organization negotiates a new Pandemic Agreement, the current draft falls short in addressing a critical aspect of global health security: the One Health approach. Despite mounting evidence that the majority of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals, the proposed agreement lacks robust provisions for preventing zoonotic outbreaks at their source.
The linked and interconnected nature of human, animal, and environmental health is increasingly reflected in disease trends and complex global health emergencies. Merely four years post-COVID-19, WHO has for the second time declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern after an upsurge in cases. At the same time, bird flu continues to expand its species base with human cases now being confirmed.
None of this can come as a surprise as we have long known that human and animal health are synergistic; 75% of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals and 61% of all human infections come from animals. The human-animal disease interface is a downstream consequence of our interactions with, and treatment of, both animals and the environment.
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About the author
Esme Wheeler
Esme Wheeler is an external affairs adviser at Brooke and leads the Action for Animal Health Coalition. An animal welfare policy and advocacy professional with expertise in science-led policy and legislation, animal welfare, campaign strategy, and One Health. Her academic background spans both global health and animal behavior.
