One Health Defined: A New Way to Think about Wellbeing

“One Health” is a way of conceptualizing wellbeing that recognizes the interconnection and co-dependence of human, animal, plant, and environmental health and focuses on collaborating across scientific fields to improve health across all components of the ecosystem. One Health was formalized in the early 2000s after the first cases of severe acute respiratory disease (SARS) and the rapid spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) drew international attention and concern about how pathogens can move and spread across the human, animal, and environmental interface. SARS and H5N1 highlighted the need for collaborative efforts to address diseases in an increasingly connected world. One Health is now used broadly to address health challenges across human, animal, and plant systems. This publication provides information about One Health to the public and to researchers and stakeholders in mosquito control and public health professions.