6th World One Health Congress – virtual edition 2020

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COVID-19 has clearly shown why One Health, the core of which is the recognition of the existential interconnectedness of humans, animals and their shared environment, is key to ensuring the healthy and sustainable future of the planet. We all know that there has been, and continues to be, a significant increase in the emergence of infectious agents and in the potential risk of new pandemics, as exemplified by the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 has also clearly demonstrated that a previously unknown pathogen can emerge from a wildlife source at any time in any place and without warning, threatening the health, well-being and economies of all societies. There is therefore a clear need for countries to have the capability and capacity to maintain an effective alert and response system to detect and quickly react to outbreaks of international concern, and to share information about such outbreaks rapidly and transparently.

Responding to pandemic threats requires global cooperation and global participation. Combined with the growing globalization of health risks and the importance of the human-animal interface in the evolution and emergence of pathogens, the only solution is a One Health approach.