Editorial : Taking a Fresh Look at Old Zoonoses, What Have We Been Missing in One Health Research and Education?

In this Research Topic, we present a collection of papers focusing on the role of One Health education and research to promote and protect the health of human, animals, and environment. Covid-19 is the most recent demonstration of a human health crash in the post vaccine era, the pandemic has reminded that human health is inextricably linked to that of animals and the environment. Boriani et al. discussed the planetary aspects of the pandemic, and proposed a method aimed at easing the approach to systems and inter- and trans-disciplinary thinking to find nature-based solutions (NbS) for preventing future pandemics. A reclassification of Covid-19, as an emerging infectious disease (EID) was suggested by Haider et al. Withdrawing the designation of SARS-CoV-2 as a zoonosis and reviewing COVID-19 as an EID will be important to address the underlying drivers of the emergence of such pathogens and reduce the risk of inappropriate animal persecution or other unsuitable interventions. Looking at COVID-19 as an EID, makes it no less valuable that research confirms whether an animal reservoir actually exists becoming potential sources of future human infection. Emerging zoonoses are a rising threat to global health, having caused severe economic impacts in the past years. However, the greatest burden on human health and livelihoods is caused by endemic zoonoses that are persistent health problems around the world. This Research Topic particularly focuses on “neglected” zoonotic diseases, affecting poor, and marginalized populations in low-resource settings. For these diseases, whose burden has proven difficult to estimate, it is still virtually impossible to assess the real impact on the social wellbeing and the mental health of affected communities, livestock owners, and their families (1). Tuberculosis and Brucellosis are important chronic infections that are endemic in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries (2). Endemic diseases cannot be readily eradicated but best be monitored and acted upon with a control plan in the animal reservoir if and when the threshold of concern is reached. Therefore, surveillance plans play a crucial role in keeping neglected zoonoses at bay (3) as suggested by some authors in this Research Topic.Peer reviewe

Editorial : Taking a Fresh Look at Old Zoonoses, What Have We Been Missing in One Health Research and Education?

In this Research Topic, we present a collection of papers focusing on the role of One Health education and research to promote and protect the health of human, animals, and environment. Covid-19 is the most recent demonstration of a human health crash in the post vaccine era, the pandemic has reminded that human health is inextricably linked to that of animals and the environment. Boriani et al. discussed the planetary aspects of the pandemic, and proposed a method aimed at easing the approach to systems and inter- and trans-disciplinary thinking to find nature-based solutions (NbS) for preventing future pandemics. A reclassification of Covid-19, as an emerging infectious disease (EID) was suggested by Haider et al. Withdrawing the designation of SARS-CoV-2 as a zoonosis and reviewing COVID-19 as an EID will be important to address the underlying drivers of the emergence of such pathogens and reduce the risk of inappropriate animal persecution or other unsuitable interventions. Looking at COVID-19 as an EID, makes it no less valuable that research confirms whether an animal reservoir actually exists becoming potential sources of future human infection. Emerging zoonoses are a rising threat to global health, having caused severe economic impacts in the past years. However, the greatest burden on human health and livelihoods is caused by endemic zoonoses that are persistent health problems around the world. This Research Topic particularly focuses on “neglected” zoonotic diseases, affecting poor, and marginalized populations in low-resource settings. For these diseases, whose burden has proven difficult to estimate, it is still virtually impossible to assess the real impact on the social wellbeing and the mental health of affected communities, livestock owners, and their families (1). Tuberculosis and Brucellosis are important chronic infections that are endemic in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries (2). Endemic diseases cannot be readily eradicated but best be monitored and acted upon with a control plan in the animal reservoir if and when the threshold of concern is reached. Therefore, surveillance plans play a crucial role in keeping neglected zoonoses at bay (3) as suggested by some authors in this Research Topic.Peer reviewe