One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance

Zoonotic and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) diseases account for more than 95 percent of all emerging infectious diseases reported during the second half of the 20th century. About 700,000 people die annually as a result of drug-resistant infections caused by tuberculosis (TB), HIV and malaria alone. If no action is taken, it is estimated that drug-resistant infections will kill 10 million people a year by 2050. This scenario has the potential to devastate economies, with an estimated output loss of $100 trillion by 2050. During November, partners around the world came together to acknowledge One Health Day and Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness week. This month’s newsletter highlights our work combating AMR; building on the strides made against infectious diseases like TB, HIV, and malaria; and the Bureau for Global Health’s multi-sectoral focus on animal, human and environmental health. Read more.

GHSA-USAID Commitments to Addressing AMR through a One Health Approach through 2024

From November 6–8, Indonesia hosted the 5th Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Ministerial Meeting in Bali. The meeting underscored that global health security continues to need urgent attention to protect against infectious disease threats, whether naturally occurring, accidental or deliberate. All 64 GHSA member countries agreed to extend GHSA’s original five-year mandate for an additional five years through 2024. The renewed commitment recognizes GHSA as the premier initiative to advance global health security and reinforces the successful implementation of the global standards for health security. Furthermore, GHSA membership acknowledged the importance of multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder engagement at all levels to advance global health security objectives.

USAID has been instrumental in shaping GHSA goals and the newly launched GHSA 2024 Framework(link is external). Since 2015, the Agency has collaborated with more than 17 GHSA countries to strengthen zoonotic disease and One Health capacities by linking expertise in animal and human health and the environment. Through strategic capacity-building activities and leveraging existing U.S. Government and partner investments, the Agency helps focus countries prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease threats that compromise global health security.