For our final dive into some of the issues impacting our Earth, this week we will be examining how truly interconnected our own health, animal health, and environmental health is. This concept is encompassed by the concept of One Health, an approach to health that strives to maximize the well-being of all of the planet’s inhabitants.
This concept was embraced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2009, when the organization officially created its One Health office. Since then, the idea has played a substantial role in public health.
The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the idea of One Health, given the virus’s likely origins among animal populations. However, the same concept can be applied to a range of emerging zoonotic diseases. While diseases do emerge naturally, there are various human behaviors that increase the likelihood of a spillover event in which a pathogen jumps from animal to person.
As human globalization continues, so too does destruction of animals’ natural habitats. Like I highlighted in my previous post, human actions have resulted in the fracturing of ecosystems. As a result, animals are forced to venture closer to human civilization in their daily lives, increasing the risks that humans will be exposed to them or the diseases they may carry.
Another issue arises due to the growing need for food to supply the growing human population. The maintenance of more food animals, paired with urbanization, draws attention to the interface between wildlife, livestock, and humans. These expanding opportunities for interactions between species can also increase the risk of disease transmission and emergence.
Climate change also plays a role in altering disease distribution. With rising temperatures, the geographic locations in which certain species can thrive change. Furthermore, even beyond the temperature aspect, alterations in rainfall and humidity can play a role in species range.
For instance, mosquitos are a potential source of concern. Though the exact impacts on the insects can’t be predicted with certainty, experts suggest that as the arthropods become able to thrive in more areas, the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and Dengue fever may increase. This can worsen conditions in areas already battered by these illnesses. In 2020, an estimated 627,000 people died due to malaria (a preventable disease). If action isn’t taken to address this growing problem, this number can only be expected to rise.
However, preventing malaria isn’t cut-and-dry. One of the most common historic ways for mosquito management includes insecticide usage, but this comes with its own array of issues, as it often results in environmental pollution. This has prompted research into genetic modification of mosquitoes to decrease their capacity to spread malaria, though the approach is still a work in progress.
So, what can we do to promote the One Health ideas? While most people won’t be able to work at the forefront of malaria research, that doesn’t mean that we can’t help to preserve global health. First and foremost, do what you can to help protect the Earth and your local ecosystems. Try to shop sustainably, opt for more environmentally-friendly travel options, consider volunteering in/organizing a local cleanup, and don’t litter. Additionally, support One Health approaches, and exercise proper safety and caution when interacting with wild animals.
Lastly, one of the most important things you can do is educate yourself and others on the problems facing our world. By spreading understanding of environmental issues, we can encourage the public to take a stand. In doing so, we can create a better, healthier planet for all of us to share (plants and animals included).
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References
Hassell, James M., et al. “Urbanization and Disease Emergence: Dynamics at the Wildlife–Livestock–Human Interface.” Trends in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 32, no. 1, Jan. 2017, pp. 55-67. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2016.09.012. Accessed 21 Apr. 2022.
Lindahl, Johanna F., and Delia Grace. “The Consequences of Human Actions on Risks for Infectious Diseases: A Review.” Infection Ecology and Epidemiology, vol. 5, no. 1, Jan. 2015, p. 30048. National Library of Medicine, https://doi.org/10.3402/iee.v5.30048. Accessed 21 Apr. 2022.
Moore, Sarah. “The Effect of Climate Change on Malaria.” News Medical Life Sciences, News-Medical.Net, 17 Jan. 2022, www.news-medical.net/health/The-Effect-of-Climate-Change-on-Malaria.aspx. Accessed 21 Apr. 2022.
“One Health.” World Health Organization, 21 Sept. 2017, www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/one-health. Accessed 21 Apr. 2022.