Dr. Fauci: “Diseases from Animals “Perpetual Challenge”

26 Aug Dr. Fauci: “Diseases from Animals “Perpetual Challenge”

Dr. Anthony Fauci explains that 75% of emerging human disease originates in an animal host. See a portion of Dr. Fauci video’s presentation here.

Reinforcing Fauci, is this article from EcoWatch titled “Coronavirus Shines Light on Zoos as Danger Zones for Deadly Disease Transmission Between Humans and Animals.” Visiting zoos may no longer be a thing. Read the story here.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director NIAID.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), delivered a special videotaped briefing and update on COVID-19 at the American Veterinarian Medical Association’s (AVMA) first-ever virtual annual convention, August 20-22. Speaking to thousands of veterinarians, Dr. Fauci explained how approximately three quarters of all emerging infectious diseases in human health have their origins in animals. These zoonotic diseases include SARS, H1N1 flu, and, most recently, COVID-19.

Dr. Fauci praised the industry for its ‘One Health’ approach in addressing the challenges posed by these emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases, recognizing that human health is connected to the health of animals and our shared environment.

One Health is about people working together to protect human, animal, and environmental health — coordinating, communicating, and collaborating to achieve the best health outcomes for people, animals, plants, and our shared environment.

Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the AVMA, says that a more holistic, global, One Health approach will be required to identify emerging zoonotic diseases that pose a risk to all life on this planet. Because these diseases originate from animals, Dr. Kratt says, “Veterinarians are the most qualified professionals to recognize these diseases and prevent or limit their spread, and must be included in the front-line defense.”

In addition to Dr. Fauci’s briefing, attendees at this year’s AVMA Convention heard from Dr. Tracey McNamara, the former Bronx Zoo veterinarian who, in 1999, was integral in identifying the emergence of West Nile virus in people and animals in New York, the first time the virus had appeared in the Western Hemisphere. Dr. McNamara underscored how veterinarians protect the public from emerging disease threats, and the role veterinarians can—and must—play in preventing the next pandemic.