Perspective Chapter: One Health Approach to Zoonotic Disease Control – Collaboration and Integration across Sectors

Zoonotic diseases account for 60% of reported infectious cases of animal origin, posing a major global health threat. Outbreaks such as Ebola, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), Nipah, Zika, and COVID-19 highlight the urgent need for an integrated disease prevention strategy. The One Health approach, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), bridges human, animal, and environmental health sectors to mitigate transmission risks through cross-sectoral collaboration. This chapter examines the One Health framework’s evolution, principles, and implementation challenges. It evaluates successful case studies from Thailand and the United States and identifies major barriers such as governance fragmentation, inadequate funding, and limited data sharing. Despite challenges, One Health has demonstrated effectiveness in disease prevention through enhanced surveillance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and equitable healthcare access. Case studies highlight the impact of coordinated monitoring, joint research, and veterinary public health initiatives in mitigating zoonotic threats. The One Health framework offers a sustainable, long-term solution for zoonotic disease control, requiring political commitment, intersectoral coordination, and community engagement. Strengthening global policies, securing funding, and fostering interdisciplinary partnerships will accelerate innovation, enhance disease resilience, and safeguard public health.