OneHealth

One Health is a collaborative approach that recognizes the connections between animal, human, and environmental health. It recognizes that these three types of health are linked and that health risks can spread within and between them. 

Understanding the Cycle 

Animal Factors:  Dengue is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can jump between animals and humans. One Health helps us understand the role of animals (like monkeys) in the dengue transmission cycle and develop strategies to control the virus in animal populations as well.

Environmental Factors: The One Health approach considers the environment where mosquitoes breed and the virus thrives. By understanding these environmental factors, like climate, weather, local heat, infrasctrucure conditions, and other factors, we can develop more effective mosquito control strategies and target interventions in areas with higher risk.  These envirnmental factors (like heat) can also cause other health effects that leave humans more vulnerable to infection.

Human Factors: One Health encourages a holistic approach to controlling dengue. This might involve combining mosquito control efforts with public education campaigns, improved sanitation practices, and potentially even exploring vaccines for animals that can harbor the virus.

Improved Surveillance: One Health promotes collaboration between human, environmental, and animal health sectors, leading to a more comprehensive disease surveillance system. This allows for earlier detection of potential outbreaks and quicker response measures.  Perhaps best of all, using a One Health approach for dengue also reduces many other health risks.
 

It’s simple:  Healthy Land, Healthy Animals, and Healthy Communities  = Healthy YOU!