Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management
Human–Wildlife Interactions
One Health: More than Just a Catch Phrase!
Date of this Version
Spring 2012
Document Type
Article
Citation
Human–Wildlife Interactions (Spring 2012) 6(1): article 2
doi: 10.26077/crr3-8f26
Special topic: Wildlife diseases
Abstract
The One Health Initiative is a worldwide movement of physicians, veterinarians, and other scientists that recognizes the fundamental link among humans, wildlife, and the environment; the goal of the movement is to promote the health of all living things and the environment through an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to health management. Today, emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) continue to attract much attention; nearly 75% of EIDs are zoonotic, and nearly half of them involve wildlife. These facts underscore the need for increased cooperation between health care and wildlife professionals to address new health concerns. Much has been written about the encroachment of human populations into wildlife areas, the reduction of wildlife habitat, and the spread of diseases based upon environmental changes. Now, in the twenty-first century, we face the reemergence of lingering diseases (i.e., diseases that have been held in check for decades but now are increasing).
. . .
Besides the unintentional introduction of disease, we face the ever-present threat of an intentional or malicious introduction of a virulent pathogen (i.e., bioterrorism). Transportation, both intra-national and international, makes the dissemination of disease agents much easier and faster. Thus, we must remain vigilant, and encourage and maintain open lines of communication across jurisdictional and disciplinary boundaries among organizations that historically have not interacted much (i.e., human health professionals, veterinarians, and environmental and wildlife scientists). I present a modification of Virchow’s epidemiologic triad (host, pathogen, and environment) for consideration of human–wildlife interactions (Figure 1). It is where the 3 circles overlap that we must contend with human–wildlife interaction and attempt to minimize the impact that each sphere has on the other two. Only through collaborative eff orts can we address current and future issues that are important to the health of humans, domesticated animals, and wildlife. It is to this goal that this issue of Human–Wildlife Interactions is dedicated.