One Health

National framework for disease prevention and control in Australia

Animal health, human health and environmental health are inextricably intertwined and interdependent. The health of one affects the health of all. The COVID-19 pandemic – a human health crisis of likely animal origin – has underlined the importance of the One Health concept. An Australian One Health framework for surveillance,  prevention and control, similar to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the US and other potential models areneeded for prevention and response to future pandemics, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and new and emerging infectious diseases such as Hendra virus.This will provide cost effective management of communicable and non-communicable diseases as well as other problems with local, regional and global impact.

Recommendation 5.1: The introduction of a national One Health framework for disease prevention and control  in Australia.