Assessment of One Health Knowledge, Animal Welfare Implications, and Emergency Preparedness Considerations for Effective Public Health Response

Objectives Information on knowledge of public health professionals about health aspects of the human–animal interface, referred to as One Health, is limited. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with animal welfare attitudes, practices, and One Health awareness among US Public Health Service (USPHS) officers to assess preparedness for public health response. Methods USPHS officers participated in an online, self-administered survey from February 15 through March 2, 2018. A total of 1133 of 6474 (17.5%) USPHS officers responded. We collected information on officers’ demographic characteristics, animal welfare attitudes and practices, volunteer and work exposure to animals, and One Health knowledge. We compared (1) One Health knowledge and animal work exposure (deployment, regular assignment, or none) and (2) animal welfare importance and animal work exposure. To adjust for demographic characteristics associated with One Health knowledge, we used multivariable logistic regression. Results One-third of nonveterinary officers reported encountering animals during deployment, and 65% reported that animal welfare was very or extremely important. We found no difference in One Health knowledge between nonveterinary officers who participated in deployments involving animals and nonveterinary officers who had no work exposure to animals (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.11; 95% CI, 0.71-1.75). Nonveterinary officers who participated in animal-related public health activities during regular assignment were more likely to have One Health knowledge than nonveterinary officers who had no work exposure to animals (aOR = 7.88; 95% CI, 5.36-11.59). Conclusions One Health knowledge and awareness should be further explored in the current US public health workforce to identify training needs for emergency preparedness and other collaborative opportunities.

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Health Protection

10.1093/med/9780198745471.001.0001 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

Communicable Disease ◽

Real Life ◽

Daily Practice ◽

Practical Experience ◽

Health Protection ◽

Public Health Response ◽

Environmental Public Health ◽

Health Response

This book is an accessible and practical core text on the three domains of health protection: Communicable Disease Control, Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response (EPRR), and protection of the public from environmental hazards (Environmental Public Health). The editors have attempted to develop an “all hazards approach” to dealing with health protection situations. Most health protection books confine themselves to one of the three domains, whereas this book presents a practical and all hazards approach, with some account of the overarching principles of health protection on which day-to-day practice rests. The target audience is health protection practitioners, students, doctors, nurses and other non-medical professionals who may encounter health protection issues in their daily practice. From a clear introduction to the essential principles of health protection work, the book guides readers through how to manage real health protection incidents using a combination of case studies and quick reference action checklists. Each case study provides a common health protection scenario which develops in stages, in the same way as a real-life case or incident. As the story unfolds, the reader will learn about the nature and significance of the specific threat to population health, the practical steps and issues involved in an effective public health response and the health protection principles underpinning that response. Other chapters outline the general principles of health protection, providing a deeper understanding of key tools and mechanisms, as well as insights into new and emerging health protection issues. A series of individual checklists dealing with a broad range of commonly-faced diseases, hazards and incidents complete the book. These give concise and practically-focused information that can be used even by non-specialists in time-pressured situations. In particular, the variety of chapters covered throughout the book, on Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response, and Environmental Public Health, offer a unique perspective borne out of practical experience, not easily accessible elsewhere.

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Public Health response to an outbreak of SARS-CoV2 infection in a Barcelona prison

10.1101/2020.11.08.20227744 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

A Marco ◽

C Gallego ◽

V Pérez-Cáceres ◽

RA Guerrero ◽

M Sánchez-Roig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Worker ◽

One Health ◽

Clinical Deterioration ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Public Health Response ◽

Prison Staff ◽

Staff Members ◽

Health Response ◽

Optimal Coordination

AbstractAn outbreak of SARS-CoV2 infection in a Barcelona prison was studied after seven cases appeared in nine days. One hundred and eighty-four people (148 inmates and 36 prison staff) were evaluated by rt-PCR. Thirty-nine (24.1%) were positive: 33 inmates and six staff members. The inmates were isolated in prison module 4, which was converted into an emergency COVID unit. Two people (one inmate and one health worker) were admitted to hospital for clinical deterioration. There were no deaths. Outbreaks pose a huge risk, must be detected early, are difficult to manage, and require optimal coordination between health and prison authorities.

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Use of the Community Assessment for Public Health Response (CASPER) Method by Public Health Agencies in Texas, 2001-2015

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2017.143 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 680-684

Author(s):

Kayla Cross ◽

Jennifer A. Horney

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

Health Staff ◽

Community Assessment ◽

Grant Application ◽

Public Health Response ◽

Public Health Agencies ◽

Preparedness Planning ◽

Health Response ◽

Public Health Staff

AbstractObjectivesThe use of the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) method in disaster and non-disaster settings continues to grow. While CASPERs flexibility has been well demonstrated, the documentation of specific actions that have resulted from the utilization of CASPER data has been limited. We attempted to document changes in emergency preparedness planning and policy based on CASPER data.MethodsWritten reports from 19 CASPERs conducted in Texas between 2001 and 2015 were collected. Key informant interviews were conducted with 9 public health staff knowledgeable about the CASPERs. Written reports and interview transcripts were coded and analyzed for themes.ResultsFew specific outcomes could be documented beyond a single successful grant application. Respondents felt CASPER data was not duplicative and was useful for improving existing plans. CASPER is seen as an effective way to enhance relationships with communities and partnerships with agencies including Emergency Management.ConclusionAs the use of CASPER grows, it is increasingly important to document any specific and measurable benefits, actions, and changes to planning or policy taken as the result of data collected using the CASPER method. Without measurable outputs and outcomes, support for the use of CASPER from decision-makers may begin to wane. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:680-684)

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A survey of current activities and technologies used to detect carbapenem resistance in bacteria isolated from companion animals at veterinary diagnostic laboratories—United States, 2020

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.02154-21 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Michelle A. Waltenburg ◽

Alicia Shugart ◽

John Dustin Loy ◽

Deepanker Tewari ◽

Shuping Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Veterinary Medicine ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

One Health ◽

Companion Animals ◽

Carbapenem Resistance ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Public Health Response ◽

Public Health Reporting ◽

Health Response

Carbapenems are antimicrobial drugs reserved for the treatment of severe multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. Carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) are an urgent public health threat and have been made reportable to public health authorities in many jurisdictions. Recent reports of CROs in companion animals and veterinary settings suggest that CROs are a One Health problem. However, standard practices of U.S. veterinary diagnostic laboratories (VDLs) to detect CROs are unknown. We assessed the capacity of VDLs to characterize carbapenem resistance in isolates from companion animals. Among 74 VDLs surveyed in 42 states, 23 laboratories (31%) from 22 states responded. Most (22/23, 96%) include ≥1 carbapenem on their primary antimicrobial susceptibility testing panel; approximately one-third (9/23, 39%) perform phenotypic carbapenemase production testing or molecular identification of carbapenemase genes. Overall, 35% (8/23) of VDLs across eight states reported they would notify public health if a CRO was detected. Most (17/21, 81%) VDLs were not aware of CRO reporting mandates; some expressed uncertainty about whether the scope of known mandates included CROs from veterinary sources. Although nearly all surveyed VDLs tested for carbapenem resistance, fewer had capacity for mechanism testing or awareness of public health reporting requirements. Addressing these gaps is critical to monitoring CRO incidence and trends in veterinary medicine, preventing spread in veterinary settings, and mounting an effective One Health response. Improved collaboration and communication between public health and veterinary medicine is critical to inform infection control practices in veterinary settings and conduct public health response when resistant isolates are detected.

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