The ‘One Heath’ concept: an answer to uncertainty in the international governance of emerging zoonotic diseases?

Abstract

From the analysis of the system of reference ‘One Health’ and the development of legal instruments of the world Health Organization (wHO) and the world Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), we examine how these international organizations manage uncertainties associated with recent emerging zoonotic diseases. we show that from risk management to uncertainty management, these international organizations have greatly expanded their scope of action, in particular through the mandatory notification system. At the same time, they promote intersectoral management (especially between human and animal health) and broaden the array of actors legitimatized to intervene in these issues. The previous objective of eradication of a limited number of clearly identified diseases is extended to prepare for the unknown. This model of management re-enforces the role of information for epidemiological surveillance.