This week, the spread of a deadly new virus in China highlights the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment—and why the entire biotechnology sector needs to work with partners across the industry to solve humanity’s and the planet’s biggest challenges.
Before the holidays, the Senate passed a resolution designating January 2020 One Health Awareness Month, to help us “achieve the best health for people by recognizing our connection to animals and our environment.”
A little more detail, please. “One Health is a relatively new term being used by health experts—including at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—to better focus on the linkages between human, animal and environmental health and the need to develop comprehensive solutions. For instance, public health specialists are now working with physicians and veterinarians to minimize the inappropriate use of antibiotics in human and animal patients to combat antibiotic resistance,” said the press release announcing the bipartisan resolution.
The point is to take a holistic view of infectious disease—especially since at least 60% of infections jump from animals to humans.
I think I read about this recently. Yes, it’s like the Wuhan coronavirus, a new respiratory illness that seems to have started at an animal market in Wuhan, China and then transferred to humans, infecting nearly 500 people and killing nine.
But it goes beyond animals and humans: “Our risk of picking up these types of viruses has only gone up in modern times, as we continue to interact with animals and encroach further into their territory through activities like deforestation. Climate change hasn’t helped, because warmer climates mean that certain pathogens can survive for longer in more parts of the world. And globalization means that we can introduce viruses to new parts of the world as we travel,” explains QZ.
What are some other examples? We’re also thinking about things like mosquito-borne illnesses, which are spreading to new regions due to climate change—and which might also be able to be solved by industry-wide collaboration.
So, this month, get out of your silo. Reach out to potential partners in the biotech sector who you may not have considered before. You might get a new perspective—or solve a global health challenge, together.
Amy’s Advice: A goal of One Health is to encourage the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally. The tools the biotechnology sector provides open up opportunities for understanding, solving, and preventing the web of interrelated problems threatening the health of people, animals, and the environment. The potential positive impact on zoonotic, environmental, and agricultural threats is especially great when silos are bridged, sectors cooperate, and knowledge is translated from one space to another. – Amy Walker, BIO’s Senior Manager of Infectious Diseases Policy
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