Global Steps toward OH Sample Clauses

Global Steps toward OH. Several factors contribute to the emergence and spread of zoonotic infectious diseases. Perhaps the most important factor is increasing global human population, projected to reach 8 billion by 2025 with most of the growth occurring in poor nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The increasing human population has resulted in growing demand for animal protein with associated unsafe trading of domestic and wild animals, illegal harvesting and consumption of game meat. Population growth has also put pressure on land use with continuing encroachment on natural forests and their rich and diverse fauna and flora. Other factors associated with emergence of diseases include climate change that has been linked with changing ecosystems in many regions and has subsequently been associated with alterations in the distribution of vectors that transmit diseases. The One Health (OH) approach to managing endemic and emerging outbreak threats of zoonotic diseases is based upon an appreciation of the need for human, animal (including wildlife) and environmental experts to work in coordination in order to optimize prevention and control of these diseases. In particular, it is crucial to detect and control early, any emerging and re-emerging zoonoses at the animal source to prevent them from infecting human population. The World Health Organization (WHO) revised the International Health Regulations (IHR) in 2005 to provide a new framework for the coordination of events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern, and for improving the capacity of countries to assess and manage acute public health risks. The IHR guidelines require that unusual health events, including zoonoses, be addressed by effective national surveillance and the establishment of human-animal coordinated response mechanisms at all levels. The IHR guidelines also require the inclusion of veterinary officers and wildlife experts in the national and sub-national public health emergency management committees. At the 61st World Health Assembly in 2008, WHO adopted 20 key indicators for monitoring IHR core capacity at the national level, including two indicators specific to OH. First, each country is required to establish a mechanism for coordinating all relevant sectors in the implementation of IHR. Second, each country must establish a system for surveillance of zoonoses and potential zoonoses. For its part, the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) has advocated for improved ...