The One Health Approach

The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise has always embraced the One Health approach, which is now officially recognised by the Ministry of Health, the European Commission, and all major international health organisations.

This approach requires a comprehensive, holistic perspective, openness to innovation, and collaborative efforts across multiple disciplines to achieve optimal health for people, animals, and the environment. It is essential for monitoring the risk of zoonoses, diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans, as the Covid-19 pandemic has clearly shown.

The ultimate goal is unified, global health: One Health, One Earth.

This ambitious and urgent goal can only be achieved by addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations, based on the deep connection between their health, the health of their animals, and the environment in which they live.

People, cultures, animals, goods, but also viruses and bacteria, know no borders. Preventing the spread of disease requires protecting human, animal and environmental health through interdisciplinary actions at the health, political, and everyday practice levels.

This is why, in 2022, the IZS in Teramo launched the first edition of the One Health Award: not only a prize, but above all a space for public debate on the complex interconnections between humans, animals and the environment, encouraging reflection, discussion, and deeper understanding of the real challenge ahead of us — one health for one planet.