A vision of a One Health system for Australia: on the need to rethink our health system

Description

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has clearly demonstrated our global vulnerability to emerging infectious diseases.

Improving Australia’s capacity to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from zoonotic outbreaks and other health emergencies requires a re‐think of this approach.

Indeed, the unprecedented and complex issues presented by the COVID‐19 pandemic highlighted the need for greater multisectoral engagement in both planning and implementation of pandemic preparedness in Australia, even when there is limited zoonotic transmission. 

Worldwide there is growing recognition that protection of human health requires a collaborative approach that can more nimbly tackle problems at the interface of human, animal and environmental health. 

This MJA perspective shares more.

 

Learning Outcomes

• Explain key components of the perspective.
• List the key benefits.
• Recognise the interventions recommended for preventing and controlling disease within Australia.

 

Authors: Sandra G Steele, Jenny‐Ann LML Toribio and Siobhan M Mor

Article Type: Perspective