Unit | Human and Animal Health

Using One Health, an integrated and internationally supported approach to health, the unit works on the control of zoonoses and the improvement of the health of different population groups. We demonstrate the synergistic potential of closer collaboration between the human and animal health sectors, including with other disciplines and areas of practice. Particular attention is paid to the added value of One Health for improved health and well-being, environmental services and financial savings. Among neglected zoonoses in developing countries, brucellosis and rabies are the focus of our work, which ranges from capacity building to interventions.

Taking One Health Forward

Today, integrated approaches are needed to address complex problems that cannot be solved by single disciplines, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, but also inequality, discrimination, government effectiveness and corruption, all of which have a major impact on public health. One Health is part of reporting under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). The Group of Seven (G7) industrialised countries have committed to promoting One Health and mainstreaming it into all policies. This strengthens the unit's motivation to further develop One Health - including its links to social, cultural, economic and environmental dimensions, leading to a theoretical framework for One Health approaches.

Inter- and Transdisciplinary Approaches

One Health is about interdisciplinary collaboration between different academic disciplines, primarily underpinning human and veterinary medicine, but with strong links to the natural and social sciences and the humanities. The unit also benefits from transdisciplinary collaboration with non-academic actors in the co-production of knowledge for One Health. This form of collaboration enables both qualitative and quantitative links between humans, animals and the environment. A deep recognition and understanding of the interrelationships between humans, animals and their environment at all scales is a necessary prerequisite for One Health, complemented by the benefits and added value of cross-fertilisation and closer collaboration between human and animal health and all related disciplines and stakeholders. Our inter- and transdisciplinary research benefits from long-standing work and collaborations.