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One Health Living Lab: A Collaborative and Novel Approach to Zoonotic Public Health Challenges in Portugal
Patrícia Xavier1, Marta de Sousa1, Ariana Cunha1
1Patrícia Xavier, DVM, MSc, is a Research Assistant, Health and Biotechnology (SaBio) Group, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC - CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain. Marta de Sousa, DVM, MSc, PGCert. Exotic. ifevet, is a Small Animal Veterinary Doctor, Lisbon, Portugal. Ariana Cunha, MSc, is a PhD Student, Economic Analysis and Business, University of Santiago de Compostela, and an Environmental Health Technician, Public Health Unit, Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Ave, Guimarães, Portugal. Catarina Lavrador, DVM, MSc, PhD, is an Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, and a Researcher, MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Évora. Portugal. Sandra Cavaco, DVM, MSc, PhD, is a Senior Researcher, National Reference Laboratory for Animal Health, Laboratory of Bacteriology and Mycology, National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Oeiras, Portugal. Sílvia Salvador, MD, MSc, PhD, and Carolina Torres, MD, MSc, are Public Health Medical Doctors, Directorate-General of Health, Lisbon, Portugal. Júlio Gouveia-Carvalho, DVM, PhD, is Director, Biological and Chemical Defense Laboratory, Military Academy Research Center, Portugal, Portugal. Isabel Lopes de Carvalho, PhD, is a Researcher, Infectious Disease Department, National Institute of Health, Lisbon, Portugal. Sílvia Sousa, MD, MSc, is a Major, Military Health Division, Ministry of Defence, Lisbon, Portugal. Carlos Penha-Gonçalves, DVM, PhD, is an Invited Researcher, Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. Telmo Nunes, DVM, MSc, is a Researcher, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, and an Associate, Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences; both in Lisbon, Portugal.
Abstract:
Portugal faces challenges in implementing the One Health approach for zoonotic disease. To foster integrated solutions, a "One Health Living Lab" initiative engaged diverse stakeholders, focusing on junior professionals (ie, veterinary students, public health residents, and environmental health technicians). For 2 months, multidisciplinary teams addressed Avian influenza H5N1 in cats, Mycobacterium caprae, Streptococcus suis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) through research, stakeholder engagement and solution codesign. Key outcomes included establishing a feline HPAI sentinel network, confirming S suis occupational risks, developing a timely CCHF preparedness exercise and identifying potential M caprae underdiagnosis. The living lab successfully fostered collaboration and generated practical, bottom-up initiatives. While highlighting persistent systemic barriers like data sharing, the model demonstrates a promising approach for engaging future professionals and strengthening Portugal's health security against zoonotic threats, ensuring sustained support and integration.
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