Page 6 - Science for the Planet

ONE HEALTH
Many challenges, many minds, and many benefits
Infectious diseases can pass between animals and humans, while food production, human diet and community stability can be disrupted by diseases that also infect livestock and wildlife. Emerging pathogens, such as COVID-19 and avian influenza, emphasise the threat posed by these diseases.
One Health recognises the relationship between health and disease at the human, animal and environmental interfaces,
and has become an important focus in both medical and veterinary science.
It promotes a ‘whole ecosystem’ view of health hazards, and demands a systemic change of perspective
in the management of risk.
The RVC is ideally positioned to have real impact, bringing professionals from governments,
international public health and veterinary authorities together with those with links to wildlife and environmental agencies.
Furthermore, our clinical research and services also have translational benefits. The philosophy of bringing
translational solutions from our clinical caseload addresses the needs
of our ‘bench to bedside’ approach and ensures
that as we seek cures to naturally occurring
diseases in our animal populations,
we also consider
the benefits to human medicine.
OUR IMPACT 4
Since its emergence, avian influenza has been recognised as a very serious threat to human life. In 2003, the RVC’s Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health (VEEPH) team, in collaboration with Imperial College and Université Libre de Bruxelles, embarked on a series of community-based research programmes to develop recommendations to fight the disease globally.
The findings have had profound social and economic implications, enabling more efficient allocation of resources for disease control and reducing the devastating economic damage from the culling of domestic birds.
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