Zoonotic diseases caused by parasites of wildlife origin represent a global health problem. As a top mammalian predator, the brown bear (Ursus arctos) can spread various parasites, including those that are potentially hazardous to human health. However, data on brown bear parasite fauna in Europe, and especially its seasonal dynamics, are scarce. The aim of this study was to analyse brown bear gastrointestinal parasites (helminths and protozoa) and to investigate their seasonal dynamics. Brown bear scats were collected from the eastern part of Estonia during one year, from spring 2022 to spring 2023. At first, we performed genetic host identification and selected 148 scat samples for further analyses. Parasite eggs and oocysts were identified based on morphology. The results revealed that the endoparasite prevalence among brown bears of Estonia is one of the highest in Europe (FO = 75%). The most prevalent were nematodes (60%), followed by protozoa (16%), cestodes (7%), trematodes (4%), and a single finding of an acanthocephalan. Of all endoparasites, the bear nematode Baylisascaris transfuga had the highest prevalence (51%). Importantly, the prevalence of nematodes and protozoa was season-dependent: highest for nematodes in autumn and lowest in spring, whereas protozoa followed the opposite dynamics. The vast majority of identified parasite taxa were zoonotic and are thus potentially hazardous to humans. This highlights the importance of monitoring wildlife parasites as an essential part of the One Health approach.

One Health has primarily focused on infectious diseases, without adequately considering the nuances of the environment or biocultural diversity. Its focus has predominantly been on the scientific perspective without taking into account the locally generated Indigenous knowledge or local concerns and consequences of measures adopted in terms of biosecurity and bio-monitoring and their acceptance by the communities concerned. With the recent global policy developments including the One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) and the pandemic it appears to have become more broader in scope and more inclusive, yet it continues to face multiple implementation challenges.

Drawing on a set of case studies from different regions this paper seeks to explore the multiple in One Health. It explores how we can better integrate the practical experience of local communities into the One Health approach and how anthropology as a learning approach can contribute to this. By citing specific case studies, the article argues for reckoning the co-created, even shared knowledge of different life forms, within an ecosystem and their dynamic nature. It argues that knowledge networking is crucial to bring out all the available knowledge, and to make it visible and shareable with each other while retaining their own logic and epistemology. Finally, the article points out that there is no one size fits all approach to One Health; it should be co-planned based on contextual realities.

Leptospirosis remains a significant occupational zoonosis in New Zealand, and emerging serovar shifts warrant a closer examination of climate-related transmission pathways. This study aimed to examine whether total monthly rainfall is associated with reported leptospirosis in humans in New Zealand. Poisson and negative binomial models were developed to examine the relationship between rainfall at 0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-month lags and the incidence of leptospirosis during the month of the report. Total monthly rainfall was positively associated with the occurrence of human leptospirosis in the following month by a factor of 1.017 (95% CI: 1.007–1.026), 1.023 at the 2-month lag (95% CI:1.013–1.032), and 1.018 at the 3-month lag (95% CI: 1.009–1.028) for every additional cm of rainfall. Variation was present in the magnitude of association for each of the individual serovars considered, suggesting different exposure pathways. Assuming that the observed associations are causal, this study supports that additional human cases are likely to occur associated with increased levels of rainfall. This provides the first evidence for including rainfall in a leptospirosis early warning system and to design targeted communication and prevention measures and provide resource allocation, particularly after heavy rainfall in New Zealand.

Public health interventions often neglect gender disparities. This perspective paper highlights the gendered risks using Rift Valley fever (RVF), a vector-borne zoonotic disease, as a case study, and discuss how gender inequality in RVF disease surveillance and control might impact women’s health. Most of the literature focuses on RVF exposure in males due to certain occupational roles being male dominated and neglects women’s varied responsibilities in livestock care. RVF-focused studies often lack sex-aggregated data, hindering our understanding of the gendered differences in RVF risk. Social and cultural norms limit women’s autonomy in livestock ownership, vaccination decisions and healthcare access. Therefore, there is a lack of gender-based policy for the prevention and control of RVF. To tackle the issues of gender inequality in disease surveillance and control, we need to integrate gendered considerations into RVF research design and analysis. This can lead to development of gender-responsive interventions for improved knowledge dissemination and access to veterinary care for women livestock keepers. Intervention programmes involving women (such as the We Rear Programme) have led to positive changes in social and cultural norms, resulting in greater access to markets and veterinary care for female farmers. Gender inequality in RVF disease surveillance compromises women’s health and the health of their livestock. Urgent action is required to bridge the knowledge gaps highlighted in this paper and develop equitable interventions for a One Health approach to the control of RVF.

In 2010, USAID catalyzed the formation of One Health University Networks as part of a holistic response designed to promote the One Health approach for addressing complex health challenges. This globally connected One Health University network now includes the African One Health University Network (AFROHUN) and the Southeast Asia University Network (SEAOHUN) and has representation from over 120 universities in 17 countries across Africa and Southeast Asia. Over more than 15 years of USAID investment, these networks have trained more than 85,000 students, in-service professionals and faculty around the world in One Health principles and collaborative problem solving, grounded in One Health core competencies. These One Health practitioners have gone on to contribute to improved global health security in their communities and countries. The evolution and maturation of these networks is a testament to a strong vision and dedication to the task by leadership and donors. As the global academic community continues to refine and adapt training methodologies for ‘future ready’ individuals, resources and examples from One Health University Networks stand as a legacy to build upon.

Recent increases in dengue cases across the region of the Americas have underscored the need for an integrated and collaborative One Health approach to address the potential of widespread autochthonous dengue in the continental USA. Improvements in the public health, social and health sectors are paramount in ensuring that communities are better protected. Furthermore, communities would benefit from effective adaptive strategies in the event of autochthonous dengue outbreaks. There is an opportunity to address existing challenges in the control of mosquitoes, public health infrastructure and funding that are necessary to recover from threats from climate-sensitive pathogens. Each component will improve preparedness toward widespread autochthonous dengue. This review provides an outline of adaptive and mitigating strategies and offers opportunities to address challenges through a One Health lens.

The One Health approach is increasingly recognised as a holistic solution to complex global health and ecological challenges. Legislation is of utmost relevance for its effective implementation, providing a mechanism to institutionalise intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration, clarify responsibilities and promote sustainability. However, the legal nature of One Health remains underexplored. This paper examines how the key underlying principles of One Health align with legal principles and concepts broadly recognised by legal literature and jurisprudence, including those articulated in the Rio Declaration and the International Law Association’s New Delhi Declaration on principles of international law relating to sustainable development. Emphasis is placed on the principle of integration, a cornerstone of sustainable development that offers a pathway to operationalise One Health within legal frameworks. By conceptualising One Health as an extension and practical application of the principle of integration, this paper advances its legal characterisation, embedding it within broader principles of international law. One Health is positioned as a legal construct, providing a pathway for its implementation through law and affirming its role as an integral component of sustainable development.

One Health is an approach to managing complex health threats by promoting multisectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration, engaging stakeholders, and contributing to sustainable development, while fostering equity and socioecological equilibrium across sectors and living species. Legislation is crucial for advancing One Health by establishing structures that foster collaboration, define roles and responsibilities, and support sustainable outcomes. To enhance its effectiveness, One Health must be integrated into legal frameworks addressing global challenges at the intersection of human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health, through flexible, context-specific legal frameworks adaptable to emerging and evolving threats.

This paper identifies four legal elements for embedding One Health into legislation: (i) normative integration (bridging different legal domains); (ii) multisectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration; (iii) stewardship and the sustainable management of common goods beyond human interests; and (iv) stakeholder engagement, ensuring inclusive participation. These elements are interconnected and interdependent, collectively forming a comprehensive foundation for integrating One Health into legal frameworks. They have the potential to dismantle sectoral silos, foster multidisciplinary collaboration, and advance stakeholder engagement and the recognition of the intrinsic value of all species. At the same time, these elements also function as strategies, offering practical pathways for legislative design and implementation. The paper also provides examples of their implementation and suggests avenues for future research.

There are over 200 known zoonotic diseases. Over half of all recognized human pathogens are currently or originally zoonotic, as are 60%-76% of recent emerging pathogens, yet a few are coded in International Classification of Diseases-11 (ICD-11). The practice of animal health estimates is fragmented. The numbers and categorization of animals are not consistent across different organizations or over time. The coding attributes of ICD-11 on morbidity, mortality, and zoonoses don’t exist in WAHIS. An innovation in methodology to adopt ICD-11 in World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) and code for zoonoses is required. To meet the key principles of One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) and translate the One Health approach into actionable policies, there is a compelling need to estimate the magnitude of all human and animal diseases, particularly zoonoses, using the refined codes of ICD-11.

From its beginnings in the 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata, universal health coverage (UHC) has been constantly evolving, notably so within the last ten years. Although the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals, which identify both UHC and social protection among its targets, represent an important juncture in this evolution, several States are unlikely to meet the 2030 target deadline. This article traces the history of UHC and social (health) protection in global health law, focusing on their development over the past ten years. It concludes by reflecting on what the future of UHC and social (health) protection should look like and what is needed to fully realize their potential to achieve equity and to meaningfully contribute to the betterment of people and planet, highlighting human rights, One Health, legal and financial considerations as key for the future.

The effect of reservoir construction on medically important parasites is well known worldwide but lacks information in Vietnam. With 385 active hydropower plants and numerous water reservoirs, Vietnam provides an ideal setting for studying this issue. This study investigated trematode infection in snail first intermediate hosts from three hydropower reservoirs: Hoa Binh, Son La, and Thac Ba. In total, 25,299 snails representing 16 species were examined, with 959 individuals (8 species) shedding identifiable cercariae. Infection prevalence was highest in thiarid snails (5.4%–15.4%), followed by bithynid snails (2.9%–5.8%). Other snail species showed infection prevalence ranging from 0.3% to 2.9%. Infection prevalence varied significantly across regions, with the highest prevalence in Son La, followed by Hoa Binh and Thac Ba reservoirs. However, no significant differences were observed between snails collected from reservoirs versus canals and paddy fields. Morphological identification resulted in nine cercarial morphotypes, with pleurolophocercaria, xiphidiocercariae, and echinostome being the most common types, accounting for 89.2% of all cercarial infections. Echinostome cercariae were found in seven snail species, while the other cercarial morphotypes were shed by two to five species. Gabbia fuchsiana, Parafossarulus manchouricus, and Melanoides tuberculata were the most common hosts, each harboring five cercarial morphotypes, while Radix auricularia only released echinostome type. In conclusion, our findings highlight the endemic presence of trematodes in hydropower reservoirs and emphasize the need to consider the human-environment interaction around these reservoirs for a better understanding of disease transmission risks.

There is a pressing need for novel approaches to help address climate change and for a workforce that is equipped with a combination of new and different types of knowledges. The One Health (OH) core competencies perhaps offer the new knowledges, skills and attitudes that will be needed in a future generation of practitioners that does not shy away from complexity. The objective of this research was to identify overlapping and transferable OH-climate change competencies that are needed of professionals working to address climate change. Using focus groups and qualitative content analysis, 23 professionals from across Canada whose employment positions had a key focus on climate change were brought together across five sessions. Participants agreed that the OH competencies were applicable to their employment roles and responsibilities, but they identified four key missing areas that are important for graduates: evaluative and reflective practice, personal resilience, turning knowledge into action and having an openness to other knowledges (particularly Indigenous and non-Western viewpoints). This work also provided a first iteration of a process that should be continually used to bridge the gap between theory and practice, as employer needs are a key consideration during the development of educational programs.

In 2022, the largest ever virgin soil outbreak of Japanese encephalitis (JE) occurred in Australia resulting in 45 reported human cases of JE, with seven fatalities. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was detected in 84 piggeries across Australia. In response, states implemented targeted vaccination programs for those individuals at the highest risk of JEV exposure. A mixed methods approach, including geospatial mapping of JEV vaccine distribution in Queensland, a case series of Queensland human cases and interviews with Queensland Health staff, assessed the JEV vaccination response program. Five notified human cases were reviewed, with three having occupational outdoor risk and local travel-related exposure. Vaccine coverage ranged from 0 to 7.4 doses per 100 people after 12 months of the program. The highest uptake was in southern Queensland, where 95% of the state’s commercial pig population is located. The vaccination program was limited by a heavy reliance on general practitioners, vast geographical distribution of eligible populations, difficulties mobilising and engaging eligible cohorts, and suboptimal One Health collaboration. Population and climate factors make it possible for the virus to become endemic. Targeted vaccination programs remain an important strategy to protect people at the highest risk of exposure, however, program improvements are required to optimize vaccine accessibility.