National #ONEHEALTH #Framework to Address #Zoonotic #Diseases and Advance Public Health #Preparedness in the #USA

Executive Summary 

The first ever National One Health Framework to Address Zoonotic Diseases and Advance Public Health Preparedness in the United States (NOHF-Zoonoses), 2025-2029, establishes a structure to facilitate multisectoral and transdisciplinary coordination, collaboration, and communication across the federal government. 

Using the One Health approach, the framework addresses zoonotic diseases and other priority One Health issues in the United States (U.S.). 

The One Health approach recognizes the interdependence of the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems). 

This approach mobilizes multiple diverse sectors, disciplines, and communities to work together to promote well-being and address health and ecosystem threats. 

Previous multisectoral work in the U.S. identified the critical need to formalize federal One Health coordination to address zoonotic diseases and other One Health related issues across the U.S. Government. 

Therefore, in the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act and the 2021 House Appropriations Committee Report, Congress directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in coordination with other federal agencies, to develop a framework based on the One Health approach to address zoonotic diseases and advance public health preparedness. 

The Act also directed CDC to coordinate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) to develop a mechanism to support coordination at the federal level related to prevention, detection, control, and response for zoonotic diseases and related One Health activities. 

The One Health approach applies to zoonotic diseases as well as many other health threats at the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and the environment.  

While the primary focus of the NOHF-Zoonoses is addressing zoonotic diseases and advancing public health preparedness, the U.S. OHCU has also incorporated other components of One Health into this framework. 

To meet these directives CDC partnered with DOI, USDA and other federal agencies beginning in November 2021, to plan the establishment of the United States One Health Coordination Unit (U.S. OHCU) and to draft the NOHFZoonoses. 

The U.S. OHCU was launched in January 2024, with joint leadership from CDC (Chair 2024-2026), DOI, and USDA.  

The U.S. OHCU is coordinated by a Chair that will rotate between CDC, USDA, and DOI on a biennial calendar year basis. 

U.S. OHCU membership includes 24 agencies related to health, agriculture, interior, wildlife, environment, development, state, commerce, defense, security, and other fields. 

The draft NOHF-Zoonoses was published in September 2023 via the Federal Register Notice process, to engage and obtain input from state, Tribe, local, and territorial (STLT), non-governmental partners, and the public.  

The NOHF-Zoonoses presents goals and objectives for application of the One Health approach to protect people, animals, and our shared environment in the U.S. from zoonotic diseases and advance public health preparedness to optimize health, food safety and security, and sustainability while also promoting biodiversity and conservation outcomes. 

The NOHF-Zoonoses was designed to align with and complement existing U.S. initiatives that incorporate the One Health approach. 

The seven goals outlined in the NOHF-Zoonoses include the following areas: 

-- (1) Coordination, Collaboration and Communication; 

-- (2) Prevention; 

-- (3) Preparedness; 

-- (4) Coordinated Outbreak Investigation, Response, and Recovery; 

-- (5) Surveillance; 

-- (6) Laboratory; and 

-- (7) Workforce. 

While this framework focuses on One Health coordination at the federal level, its success depends on robust partnerships with STLT, non-governmental organizations, academia, and private sector partners as well as collaboration with relevant international partners. 

Knowledge and best practices from the implementation of the NOHF-Zoonoses will inform future One Health priorities and strengthen the nation’s ability to address One Health threats and promote health, safety, security, and resilience at the human-animal-plant-environment interface. 

Advancing One Health collaboration in the U.S. through the U.S. OHCU and the NOHF-Zoonoses will enhance our ability to jointly prevent, detect, and respond to zoonotic disease threats and related One Health issues. This initiative will improve efficiency across the U.S. government by enhancing collaboration across all relevant sectors with governmental and non-governmental partners while optimizing resource use in order to protect the health, safety, and security of people, animals, plants, and our shared environment.

(...)

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/one-health/media/pdfs/2025/01/354391-A-NOHF-ZOONOSES-508_FINAL.pdf

_____