Introduction to Global One Health

The core idea of Global One Health is that health of people, animals, plants and their environments are closely connected, and that the causes for environmental problems and human/animal ill-health easily cross borders. Clear examples are the spread of avian influenza or Ebola, the emergence of antibiotic resistance, the global causes of malnutrition, and health problems linked to pollution. The insights of how different problems interact have implications for the study of health problems and for policies to prevent disease and environmental degradation.
In this introductory course students explore central approaches, concepts, and practical dilemmas in Global One Health. The aim is not just to understand and learn to use basic tools and concepts in veterinary, environmental and public health interventions, but to critically reflect on them as well. This involves understanding and questioning the aims and implementation of health policies, comparing different concepts of health, getting familiar with epidemiological and ecological studies, as well as governance, policy and legal approaches. The course enables students to analyze and discuss ethical dilemmas in Global One Health practice. Is it ethically justified to cull many animals to prevent possible human infections, e.g. in the case of avian influenza? How to understand responsibility for emerging antibiotic resistance, or for malnutrition? Is ecosystem health just a metaphor or a sensible concept?
Cases will include, for example, specific zoonoses like Q-fever, antibiotic resistance, the role of water basins for pollution/infections, and malnutrition.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Identify and analyze the complex causal connections between environmental, animal and human health, including the social determinants of health, from a Global One Health perspective
• Recognize and evaluate barriers and facilitators to policies and regulations for protecting and promoting health in specific cases of Global One Health from a legal and governance perspective
• Analyze and assess possible trade-offs, normative assumptions and ethical dimensions in Global One Health and the dilemmas that occur due to conflicting values
• Perform a rapid literature review, stakeholder mapping, and intervention analysis in a particular case of Global One Health that contribute to appropriate practice design skills
• Express their attitude towards and/or concerns about the Global One Health concept and contribute to meaningful discussions about studying and practicing it