As a veterinarian, you recognize your role in keeping Pets healthy. But, do you recognize the role that you play in the promoting the health of the human members of the family as well? Veterinarians possess knowledge and understanding about disease transmission that, when shared with clients, can help to build strong relationships. Clients respect and trust veterinarians as a highly credible source of information. As professionals, we have a responsibility to share knowledge that will optimize not only the health of the Pet but the health of all family members.
People and their Pets share close living (and sleeping!) spaces. The recent 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak with reports of the virus found in people, dogs and cats demonstrates this closeness. Did you know that over three quarters of the emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic? (1) However, as a recent survey revealed, most veterinarians in the United States aren’t encouraging client practices that could help to reduce zoonotic disease transmission. (1) The survey also revealed that veterinarians consider it important to educate clients on zoonotic disease prevention, but only a small percentage initiate the discussion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide on their “Healthy Pets Healthy People” website talking points, called Pet-Scriptions, to help veterinarians communicate strategies for zoonotic disease prevention with clients. Understanding whether there are young children or immunocompromised individuals in the family help veterinarians integrate zoonotic disease risk into their medical decision-making and client recommendations. In your own hospital setting, you can encourage frequent hand-washing and wearing gloves to handle feces and other biologic samples.
To help formalize the concepts into practice, the American Veterinary Medical Association launched the One Health initiative, which strives for an “establishment of closer professional interactions, collaborations, and educational opportunities across the health sciences professions, together with their related disciplines, to improve the health of people, animals, and our environment.” The most effective strategies for infectious disease prevention integrate the systems of medicine, veterinary medicine, and public health.
Veterinarians are essential partners in making One Health a reality. Did you know that it was a veterinary pathologist who linked a mysterious disease outbreak between humans and animals, which was later discovered to be West Nile virus (2)! We want our clients and their pets to have long, happy lives together. When we talk about zoonotic disease, we are demonstrating our responsibility as health professionals and building trust with our clients. Sharing this information can strengthen both the client-veterinarian bond and the Pet-family bond!
What are the challenges for veterinarians in taking a bigger role in One Health? What are the opportunities? Please let us know what you think.
Further Reading:
- Childs, J.E. & Gordon, E.R. (2009). Surveillance and control of zoonotic agents prior to disease detection in humans. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, 76, 421-428.
- Kuehn, B.M. (2010). Human, animal, ecosystems health all key to curbing emerging infectious diseases. Journal of American Medical Association, 303(2), 117-124.
References:
- Chomel, B.B. & Marano, N. (2009). Essential veterinary education in emerging infections, modes of introduction of exotic animals, zoonotic diseases, bioterrorism, implications for human and animal health and disease manifestation. Scientific and Technical Review, 28(2), 559-565.
- Kahn, L.H. (2006). Confronting zoonoses, linking human and veterinary medicine. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 12(4), 556-561.