Emerging infectious diseases stemming from the interface of human and animal ecosystems have been occurring with increasing frequency.

Zoonoses (diseases transmissible from animals to humans) pose an ongoing threat to human health and a high cost to public health systems. Zoonoses can be spread by direct transmission (plague, anthrax, brucellosis), indirect transmission (leptospirosis, zika), or are food-borne (salmonella, E. coli).

Many zoonoses are regarded as ‘neglected diseases’ and, though causing significant ill health and morbidity, they receive little attention from public health authorities: particular examples include various parasitic diseases such as hydatids and cysticercosis.

In addition to emerging infectious diseases, there is also a growing threat from the increase in antimicrobial resistance, a problem for both human and animal health.

To address these cumulative threats, there is increasing need to take a holistic approach to disease prevention, detection, response and recovery. This strategy is universally known as the ‘One Health’ approach.

The One Health philosophy identifies the need for specialists in human health, animal health (both domesticated and wild animals) and environmental health to work together using a broad cross-section of scientific disciplines.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has taken millions of lives and caused a global economic recession, has emphasized the need for effective One Health systems to be established globally.

However, One Health also needs to work within the social, cultural and economic contexts of individual countries adopting such an approach. The AIHSP was established to undertake this important work in Indonesia.

To encourage support for the integrated One Health approach, the AIHSP has launched a vital webinar called ‘Preventing the next pandemic: the One Health imperative’.