Single Health

One Health is an interdisciplinary health approach based on the principle that human, animal, and environmental health are interdependent and interconnected. This understanding recognizes that a significant proportion of risks to human health originate from animals and are directly linked to environmental factors, necessitating a multidisciplinary collaboration among health systems. The One Health approach enables a holistic evaluation of various global health issues such as zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, ecosystem health, and climate change.

Historical Background and Institutional Development

The foundations of the One Health approach were laid in the 19th century with Rudolf Virchow’s introduction of the concept of “zoonosis.” However, this perspective re-emerged prominently in the early 21st century following the international spread of infectious diseases such as SARS, H5N1, H1N1, MERS, and Ebola, becoming the focus of multilateral institutional frameworks.

The One Health concept has been structured globally through collaborative programs led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). These collaborations support the convergence of experts from diverse scientific fields to develop risk assessments, early warning systems, and intervention strategies.

Scope and Application Areas

The One Health approach focuses on three core components: human health, animal health, and environmental health. The integrated consideration of these components offers practical applications in the following areas:

• Prevention of Zoonotic Diseases: Monitoring animal movement and early detection of diseases play a critical role in controlling illnesses that can transmit from animals to humans, such as rabies, avian influenza, and COVID-19.
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): The emergence of resistant microorganisms due to inappropriate use of antibiotics poses significant public health challenges in both human medicine and veterinary practice.
• Food Safety and Animal Production: Hygiene, drug residue control, and monitoring of infectious diseases within food production chains constitute key control points for public health.
• Environmental Factors and Ecosystem Health: Factors such as deforestation, water pollution, and climate change can directly impact the health of both humans and animals.

COVID-19 Pandemic and the One Health Approach

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the global impact of zoonotic diseases as viewed through the One Health lens. Debates surrounding the origin of the outbreak have demonstrated that monitoring human-animal interactions and controlling environmental factors are fundamental to preventing infectious disease transmission. In Türkiye, health professional organizations have published several reports during the pandemic emphasizing the importance of a One Health-based structure.

Education, Awareness, and Institutional Collaboration

The implementation of the One Health approach extends beyond medical and veterinary fields. Educational institutions, media, local governments, and policymakers are also key actors in this process. Multidisciplinary efforts involving veterinarians, physicians, environmental engineers, biologists, and social scientists are supported through educational programs and field applications.

Established in 2010, the One Health Commission is an international network aimed at strengthening connections between disciplines in human, animal, and environmental health and developing sustainable solutions across these domains. The Commission fosters multi-stakeholder knowledge sharing by bringing together decision-makers, scientists, students, and civil society organizations on common platforms. Through educational materials developed specifically for higher education institutions and student-centered initiatives, the Commission seeks to transmit One Health awareness to younger generations.

World One Health Day

In order to promote international recognition and awareness of the One Health approach, November 3 is observed annually as World One Health Day. This special day was proclaimed in 2016 through a collaboration between the One Health Commission, the One Health Initiative, and the One Health Platform. On this day, conferences, seminars, educational events, and public awareness campaigns are held worldwide. In Türkiye, universities, professional associations, and health organizations conduct various activities aligned with this objective. The primary aim of these events is to encourage joint consideration of global health decisions, enhance interaction among health-related professions, and strengthen public awareness.