PHPS40230

One Health recognizes that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the health of the environment. The goal of One Health is to encourage the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally to achieve the best health for people, animals and the environment. Climate Change and environmental health are key threats to both human and animal health and will be addressed.


Most of the recent emerging infectious diseases, including Covid19, have an origin in domestic livestock, or wildlife, and almost all of them have zoonotic potential. For effective reduction of the incidence of zoonotic diseases in humans, control and eradication in the animal reservoirs is important.

Animals share our susceptibility to many infectious diseases and environmental hazards. Because of this, adverse health effects in animals, fish and birds can serve as early warning signs of potential human illness. The canary in the mines used to detect toxic gases is an example of using a bird as a sentinel for an unhealthy environment for humans.

The overall aim is to ensure that the student develops an understanding of the key concepts in One Health: epidemiology of key zoonotic agents and the relationship between animal and human health, food borne disease, and environmental hazards. In addition the student should gain an understanding of the use of animals as sentinels of environmental hazards.

All assessment components must be completed in order to pass the module.