“One Health” Initiative… let’s all do our bit to help!

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a “One Health” issue.  It can spread between animals, people, plants and the environment.  “One Health” is a concept that recognises the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment and requires the collaboration at a local, regional, national and global level to successfully deal with.

AMR occurs when germs (bacteria, fungi, or viruses) no longer respond to medicines.  Resistant germs can spread between humans, animals and the environment.  It happens naturally over time, usually through genetic changes that occur within the germ but can increase by overuse or misuse of antimicrobials which are treatments like antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals.  AMR is one of the World Health Organization's (WHO) top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.  It kills more than one million people around the world each year.  The WHO predicts 10 million people will die annually from AMR unless appropriate action is taken now – that's higher than the number of people who die from cancer every year!  Drug-resistant infections can cause disease that is difficult or impossible to treat and can even be fatal.  In animals this leads to poor animal welfare, pain, and production losses.  

Us, as Veterinarians, and you, as Farmers, have a role to play in the prevention and control of AMR in New Zealand (NZ).  NZ Food Safety has an antimicrobial resistance work programme and, in late 2022, it established an AMR team.  The team is working towards the goals of the NZ Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan.  The AMR work programme includes:

·         AMR surveillance

·         Monitoring

·         Auditing

·         Regulatory reassessment of antimicrobials

·         Education to promote stewardship of antimicrobials used in plants and animals

Let’s all do our part in keeping our world a healthier and safer place!