Integrating environment into One Health approaches: Embracing the complexity

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Public health
• One Health

Background:

• Environmental surveillance offers vital public health insights but is frequently excluded from integrated approaches.
• Current One Health strategies often neglect the significant contribution of environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the integration of environmental surveillance into One Health frameworks.
• To highlight the necessity of incorporating complex environmental data into public health initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Review of current One Health methodologies and their limitations regarding environmental data.
• Discussion of advancements in environmental monitoring tools and data analysis.
• Emphasis on the need for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Main Results:

• Environmental surveillance data is essential for a comprehensive understanding of health threats.
• Technological progress enables the inclusion of previously unmanageable environmental datasets.
• Multidisciplinary teamwork is key to overcoming the complexity of integrated environmental health data.

Conclusions:

• The integration of environmental surveillance is critical for robust One Health approaches.
• Embracing complex environmental data requires collaborative efforts across diverse scientific fields.
• Future public health strategies must prioritize the inclusion of environmental monitoring for holistic health assessment.