One Health preparedness
In our interconnected world, public health and animal health are closely linked within the environment. Vector-borne diseases are an excellent model of diseases shared between humans and animals and depending on climate and geographic situation.
According to WHO(1), “epidemic preparedness is a continuous process in which action, funding, partnerships, and political commitment at all levels must be sustained. It relies on all stakeholders working together with a coordinated multisectoral approach to plan, invest in and implement priority actions.”
It involves proactive measures, such as surveillance systems, improved diagnostic capacities, response plans, infrastructures, etc., put in place before an epidemic occurs to ensure a rapid and effective response to contain and manage disease spread. To address potential epidemics caused by vector-borne diseases, it is essential to strengthen collaboration between all sectors involved (human health, animal health, entomology and environmental health), following a One Health approach, to prevent and fight the emergence of epidemics.
To do so OneHealthSecure will:
- Update cutting-edge diagnostic capacities in human and animal laboratories using laboratory techniques adapted to the changing epidemiological situation regarding vector-borne diseases in the concerned region.
- Support the assessment of innovative diagnostic tools for disease surveillance in specific geographic settings.
- Support the implementation of good laboratory practices and biosafety standards.
- Provide technical assistance during emergencies
- Strengthen vectors’ identification with a focus on tick identification.
- Present innovative methods for monitoring and controlling vectors, considering their resistance to insecticides.
Moreover, epidemics tend to induce a wave of media requests for clear, simple answers from scientists and public health officials to respond to public concerns. Being prepared for an epidemic also means having a good communication strategy to mitigate the spread of misinformation. For these reasons, OneHealthSecure project aims at strengthening communication capacities of its members as a relevant asset for epidemic preparedness.
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(1) WHO, Framework for Public health Emergency Operations Center 2015 and A strategic framework for emergency preparedness 2017