US releases first national One Health framework

The federal government released its first national One Health plan to protect from shared health threats on January 10. The plan, derived from veterinary-driven and AVMA-championed One Health legislation, creates a structure to enhance transdisciplinary coordination, collaboration, and communication across 24 agencies.

Formally known as the National One Health Framework to Address Zoonotic Diseases and Advance Public Health Preparedness in the United States (NOHF-Zoonoses), it spans from 2025-29 and is aimed at addressing the interconnected challenges of human, animal, and environmental health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of the Interior (DOI) are leading the effort.

One Health in action

The government’s commitment to a coordinated One Health approach reflects the lessons learned from past outbreaks and underscores the importance of preparation for future health threats, according to the plan.

The framework’s goals include improving the nation’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to zoonotic diseases while also enhancing biodiversity, food security, and ecosystem resilience.

The NOHF-Zoonoses identifies several zoonotic diseases of significant concern: avian influenza, West Nile virus, rabies, salmonellosis, plague, brucellosis, Lyme disease, and emerging coronaviruses such as SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.

Key goals outlined in the framework are as follows:

• Coordination, collaboration, and communication: Establish a standing, formal One Health coordination mechanism, the U.S. One Health Coordination Unit (US OHCU), to provide a common platform and governance structure to address One Health needs.
• Prevention: Implement early intervention strategies to reduce spillover and spillback of diseases, promote ecosystem restoration, and address factors that contribute to disease emergence.
• Preparedness: Conduct interagency training, develop predictive models, and foster resilience through nature-based solutions.
• Outbreak investigation response and recovery: Build and strengthen the One Health approach to coordinate zoonotic disease outbreak response across relevant sectors.
• Surveillance: Enhance monitoring systems for zoonotic diseases and ensure data interoperability across sectors.
• Laboratory capacity: Strengthen diagnostic capabilities and support advanced pathogen detection technologies.
• Workforce development: Build a skilled, diverse, and inclusive workforce to address One Health challenges.

Laying the groundwork

The NOHF-Zoonoses builds on earlier efforts, such as the 2017 One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization workshop, which brought together federal and state officials to identify zoonotic diseases of greatest concern. These diseases, which include rabies, Lyme disease, and avian influenza, were prioritized for joint federal action.

Following the workshop, the CDC established the One Health Federal Interagency Network (OH-FIN) to enhance collaboration and information-sharing across federal agencies.

The framework itself comes from directives by Congress that were enacted as part of the federal fiscal year 2023 budget. Supported by the AVMA, the One Health language that passed tasked the CDC, USDA, and DOI with crafting a plan to advance public health preparedness through a One Health lens. These agencies have historically addressed zoonotic diseases, but this new framework formalizes their collaborative efforts under a unified mission.

A key element in achieving the NOHF-Zoonoses’ objectives is the establishment of the US OHCU. Launched in January 2024, the coordination unit brings together representatives from agencies spanning public health, agriculture, wildlife, environment, and emergency response. Leadership of the unit rotates every two years among the CDC, USDA, and DOI.

Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh, captain of the U.S. Public Health Service and director of the CDC’s One Health office, is chair of the interagency core leadership team from 2024-26. She is joined on the team by Lisa Branum, deputy assistant secretary for public safety and resource protection and emergency services at the DOI, and Dr. Michael Neafsey, One Health coordinator for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Veterinary Services.

Global impact

While the framework is focused on U.S. federal activities, its implications can extend globally. The government works closely with international partners, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE), to advance One Health on a global scale.

Domestically, the framework emphasizes collaboration with state, tribal, local, and territorial governments as well as affected communities and the public.

“Although the NOHF- Zoonoses is primarily focused on zoonotic diseases, the partnerships, systems, and lessons learned from the proposed activities can be expanded and applied to other priority One Health issues and shared priorities,” the document states. “The activities described in this framework are intended to support and encourage collaboration and cooperation with existing efforts, initiatives, and plans rather than create a parallel set of activities and priorities over the next five years.”

At the end of the five-year period, collaborating federal agencies will decide whether to continue with their commitment to the framework or update the goals and objectives. Future work needed to support the framework’s objectives, including evaluation efforts and gap analyses, will be conducted within the five-year period.