What is the primary purpose of pathogen surveillance in One Health?

What is the primary purpose of pathogen surveillance in One Health?

• A. Identifying novel pathogens across species to understand spillover risk and inform surveillance and response strategies.
• B. To study pathogens only from the past with no current relevance.
• C. To replace vaccination programs entirely.
• D. To focus solely on animal health with no human health implications.

Answer: (A)

Pathogen surveillance in One Health aims to detect and monitor pathogens across humans, animals, and the environment to understand how diseases emerge and move between species. The primary purpose is to identify novel pathogens across species to understand spillover risk and inform surveillance and response strategies. This helps provide early warning for new threats, reveal how cross-species transmission occurs, and guide where interventions are needed—such as targeted surveillance, vaccination planning, biosecurity, and public health responses—before outbreaks take hold. It reflects the interconnected nature of health, integrating data from wildlife, livestock, domestic animals, and people to anticipate and reduce risk. The other options miss this integrated, forward-looking goal: they focus on past pathogens, aim to replace vaccination, or ignore human health implications, none of which align with how One Health surveillance is designed to work.

Pathogen surveillance in One Health aims to detect and monitor pathogens across humans, animals, and the environment to understand how diseases emerge and move between species. The primary purpose is to identify novel pathogens across species to understand spillover risk and inform surveillance and response strategies. This helps provide early warning for new threats, reveal how cross-species transmission occurs, and guide where interventions are needed—such as targeted surveillance, vaccination planning, biosecurity, and public health responses—before outbreaks take hold. It reflects the interconnected nature of health, integrating data from wildlife, livestock, domestic animals, and people to anticipate and reduce risk. The other options miss this integrated, forward-looking goal: they focus on past pathogens, aim to replace vaccination, or ignore human health implications, none of which align with how One Health surveillance is designed to work.