One Health is an internationally supported approach that recognises that the health and well-being of animals, people and the environment are closely linked and that international, national and local cooperation are needed to achieve optimal health outcomes. The One Health approach is necessary to effectively prevent, detect and respond to biosecurity issuesthat arise at the interface between humans, animals, and the environment.
WA is fortunate to have a strong biosecurity system in place that protects the health of animals, people and the environment, and which supports collaboration across agencies and disciplines.
Our role in One Health
In WA, the department supports the One Health concept through its livestock biosecurity activities, such as:
- Animal health surveillance and diagnostics, including in wildlife and particularly for reportable or new and emerging diseases.
- Livestock identification, traceability and movement.
- Animal feed and veterinary chemical use.
- Support of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy and input into its implementation plan.
The department also regularly engages and collaborates with other government agencies, universities and industry researchers on priority animal biosecurity issues.
Animal health surveillance in WA
The collaborative approach under One Health is particularly important because human and animal health have been shown to be interdependent, with some existing human infectious diseases originating in animals and new or emerging diseases developing in wildlife species.
Serious diseases that can infect both humans and animals are known as ‘zoonoses’ and include diseases such as Hendra virus,and avian influenza.
This video gives an overview of animal health surveillance in WA.
Preventing antimicrobial resistance
Increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance may impact the effective prevention and treatment of an increasing range of infections in humans, animals and plants.
Minimising further development of AMR requires worldwide collaboration between the human, animal and environmental sectors.
Learn about antimicrobial resistanceWorld Health Organization resources
For more information about the global approach to One Health, visit the following websites: