CVM Puts One Health into Practice: Protecting the Health of People and Animals in our Shared Environment

The central idea of One Health is that people, animals, and our shared environment are closely interconnected. A One Health approach to solving a public health problem considers all three perspectives to achieve the best possible outcome. 

FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has long recognized the importance of One Health in its mission to protect human and animal health. Every day, CVM’s mission reaches across scientific disciplines and combines the knowledge of experts in multiple fields. Veterinarians, chemists, biologists, statisticians, economists, environmental scientists, and others work together to use science, technology, and innovation to improve the well-being of people, animals, and the environment and to support the human-animal bond. 

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How CVM Uses a One Health Approach

We help integrate human and animal health to support a pipeline of innovative, safe, and effective products.

Explore examples here: 

• Animal and Veterinary Innovation Agenda
• Intentional Genomic Alterations
• FDA Letter to Industry: Industry Encouraged to Contact FDA Regarding Novel Animal Foods with Drug Claims

We help protect people and animals from harm caused by products intended for other species.

Explore examples here:

• Outbreaks and Advisories
• Potential Health Risks to People Exposed to Altrenogest Products for Horses or Pigs
• Don’t Expose Pets to Prescription Topical Fluorouracil Medicine for People
• Xylitol and Dogs, A Deadly Combination

We help coordinate human and animal health in preventing and responding to public and environmental health challenges and emergencies.

Explore examples here: 

• From House Cats to Big Cats: How FDA Evaluated Methods for Detecting SARS-CoV-2 in Animals
• Mitigating Animal Drug Shortages

We lead efforts to help ensure that antimicrobial and antiparasitic drugs remain effective.

Explore examples here:

• Antimicrobial Resistance
• FDA Veterinarians Contribute One Health Resource on Global Antiparasitic Resistance in Grazing Livestock

We collaborate with state, national, and international partners to support mutual goals.

Explore examples here: 

• Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network
• The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System
• CVM International Affairs

We evaluate the potential environmental impacts of products prior to approval.

Explore examples here:

• Environmental Impact Considerations

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One Health News from CVM

March 5, 2024 - FDA Accepting Proposals for FY 2024-2025 Funding Opportunities to Collect Data on Antimicrobial Use in Animals

December 15, 2023 - FDA Seeks Public Input on Guidance for Priority Zoonotic Animal Drug Designation

November 20, 2023 - CVM Antimicrobial Stewardship in FY2023 and Beyond

November 3, 2023 - CVM One Health: Protecting Human, Animal and Environmental Health through a Strong Animal and Veterinary Industry

February 28, 2023 - FDA Takes Action to Restrict Unlawful Import of Xylazine

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One Health Resources

One Health at FDA

• Focus Areas of Regulatory Science: Cross-cutting Topics: One Health Initiative 
• Extramural Research: 2023 FDA Broad Agency Announcement 
• FDA Grand Rounds presentation: One Health at FDA: From Concept to Application
• FDA Grand Rounds presentation: A Pandemic and a Call to Action for One Health: The FDA One Health Initiative

One Heath at Other Federal Agencies

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: One Health | CDC
• Environmental Protection Agency: One Health | US EPA
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Health & Air Quality | NASA Earth Action Program and Welcome — Earth Information Center
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: NOAA One Health - Climate Program Office
• National Park Service: One Health (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: One Health | USDA
• U.S. Geological Survey: Humans/One Health | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)

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For More Information

If you have questions on One Health at CVM, please visit Contact CVM.