Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) pose a major threat to global health, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. Approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases affecting humans originate from animals. Factors such as climate change, urbanization, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and increased human-animal interaction have accelerated disease emergence. The One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health and promotes multidisciplinary collaboration to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.

Objective

To evaluate the role of the One Health approach in addressing emerging infectious diseases and assess its effectiveness in surveillance, outbreak response, disease prevention, and health system resilience.

Methods

A multicenter mixed-methods study was conducted between January 2023 and December 2024 involving 20 public health agencies, veterinary institutions, environmental organizations, and academic centers. Data from 2,500 professionals involved in disease surveillance and outbreak management were collected. Quantitative analyses assessed surveillance performance and outbreak outcomes, while qualitative interviews explored implementation experiences and challenges.

Results

Institutions implementing comprehensive One Health frameworks demonstrated a 39.4% improvement in outbreak detection, 33.8% faster response times, and 28.6% lower outbreak-related mortality rates compared with conventional sector-specific systems. Zoonotic diseases accounted for 74.2% of reported emerging infectious disease events. Major implementation barriers included funding limitations, fragmented data systems, workforce shortages, and policy gaps.

Conclusion

The One Health approach significantly enhances preparedness and response to emerging infectious diseases. Strengthening integrated surveillance systems, interdisciplinary collaboration, workforce capacity, and policy support is critical for addressing future epidemic and pandemic threats.