Announcement written by Tomoko Y. Steen, Ph.D. & Ashley Cuffia, MS, MLS, Science Reference Section, ST&B Division.

Continuing the Library of Congress COVID-19 Health Webinar Series, the Library’s Health Services Division (HSD) and Science, Technology & Business Division (ST&B) will be hosting the virtual panel COVID-19: Stronger Together through a One Health Approach on Tuesday, October 19th at 12 p.m. (ET). HSD and ST&B hope this seventh event in our COVID-19 series will promote further understanding of the original mechanisms of zoonotic diseases such as SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2) / COVID-19 (Coronavirus Infectious Disease-19) pandemic. We would also like to encourage a dialogue between the audience and our panel comprising leaders of one health initiatives. The program is open to everyone.
Understanding the scientific processes behind the role of animals and zoonotic diseases is of vital importance to the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic opened our eyes to a new era in global health and security, and how the One Health (OH) approach’s many facets will be useful to prepare for the ‘next’ pandemic. According to the CDC, One Health is “a collaborative, multisectoral, and trans-disciplinary approach—working at the local, regional, national, and global levels—to achieve optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.”
The OH approach requires full engagement with disciplines beyond human and veterinary medicine and environmental science, such as sociology, economics, political science, and behavioral science. As we now live in a global village, we realize that microbes do not respect any geographical boundaries. International travel has enabled the rapid spread of many zoonotic pathogens, so what used to take weeks, can now spread in hours. Advanced preparedness is the key for our future safety.
In this era of new and emerging infections with chronic complications, unprecedented long-term consequences and environmental threats, members of professional health fields are seeking different approaches to help maintain the world population’s health and wellness. By providing high-quality information that can ease fears, OH can help people live and work with a greater sense of wellbeing. We look to our presenters to enlighten us and help clarify many of the observations we are noting.
Registration is required and is limited to 1,000 participants. Please use: https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_dhxkGQp1QeGtE–rwtEyyA.
Panelists:
- Sharon Deem, DVM, Ph.D., Diplomat, American College of Zoological Medicine,
- Director, Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine
- Speaker Topic: COVID-19: A Wake-up Call for One Health.
- Bernadette Dunham, D.V.M., Ph.D.
- Professorial Lecturer, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
- Speaker Topic: COVID-19: Citizen Scientists and One Health
- Tracey McNamara, V.M., Diplomat, A.C.V.P.
- Veterinary Pathologist and a Professor of Pathology at Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona, CA.
- Speaker Topic: Blind Spots
The Library is fortunate to have access to researchers and health experts who are willing to share their knowledge and cutting edge information with us in order to promote health literacy. One of the key objectives at the Library of Congress is connecting people to expert scientists, who can further the understanding of the current pandemic.
For more information or questions about this webinar, please use our Ask-a-Librarian Service.
Individuals requiring accommodations for this event are asked to submit a request at least five business days in advance by contacting (202) 707-6362 or [email protected].
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Comments (2)
I think that One health approach is the future of the fight against new pandemics
There’s certainly a great deal to know about this topic. I like all the points you’ve made.