On the surface, that approach sounds noble and reasonable. But some scientists and medical experts told The Defender they’re concerned about the concept’s vague goals, and the motivation of those involved with the development and global rollout of the concept — including the WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Bank.
Some experts also questioned the connections many key figures in the One Health initiative have to entities involved in controversial gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China.
The WHO argues that by linking humans, animals and the environment, the One Health approach can “help to address the full spectrum of disease control — from prevention to detection, preparedness, response and management — and contribute to global health security.”
According to the WHO:
“While health, food, water, energy and environment are all wider topics with sector-specific concerns, the collaboration across sectors and disciplines contributes to protect health, address health challenges such as the emergence of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety and promote the health and integrity of our ecosystems.
“The approach can be applied at the community, subnational, national, regional and global levels, and relies on shared and effective governance, communication, collaboration and coordination. Having the One Health approach in place makes it easier for people to better understand the co-benefits, risks, trade-offs and opportunities to advance equitable and holistic solutions.”
However, according to independent journalist and researcher James Roguski, a definition of One Health also appears on page 952 of the recently passed National Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which states:
“The term ‘One Health approach’ means the collaborative, multi-sectoral, and transdisciplinary approach toward achieving optimal health outcomes in a manner that recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.”
And a WHO One Health “fact sheet” published Oct. 3, 2022, claims that “The health of humans, animals, and ecosystems are closely interlinked. Changes in these relationships can increase the risk of new human and animal diseases developing and spreading.”
The fact sheet states that “60% of emerging infectious diseases that are reported globally come from animals, both wild and domestic” and “Over 30 new human pathogens have been detected in the last 3 decades, 75% of which have originated in animals.”
“Human activities and stressed ecosystems have created new opportunities for diseases to emerge and spread,” the WHO notes.
What are such “stressors,” according to the WHO? They “include animal trade, agriculture, livestock farming, urbanization, extractive industries, climate change, habitat fragmentation and encroachment into wild areas.”
Because One Health can be defined so broadly, Bell said, “It’s now being looked at as anything in the biosphere that could potentially affect human wellbeing … you could say anything that causes stress on people is part of the One Health agenda.”
He added:
“If you’re a really wealthy person that sponsors something like the WHO, and you wanted to increase the reach of your power and ability to enrich yourself, then One Health becomes really valuable in public health — because public health is virtually anything that humans interact with or do.
“And then, you can justify almost any way of controlling people on the basis that, in some way, you’re protecting someone, somewhere, from some form of ill health or reduced quality of health.”
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