Background

‘One Health’ is defined by the World Health Organisation as an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), zoonotic diseases are estimated to be responsible for 2.5 billion cases of human illness globally per year, and over 60% of existing and 75% of re-emerging human diseases are zoonotic. This highlights the need for increased and ongoing surveillance in both farmed and wildlife animal populations worldwide.

Summary

The OH-ALLIES project is a surveillance project for the island of Ireland.  The project focuses on the surveillance of both influenza viruses (WP2) in wildlife and farmed animals, and tick-borne flaviviruses (WP3) in farmed animals.  The project also builds capacity for the surveillance of pathogen Y (WP4) in Ireland, and evaluates surveillance systems for priority zoonotic pathogens (WP5), the final outcome of which is to produce recommendations on the future development of One Health IT platforms for the surveillance of influenza and other emerging zoonotic pathogens on the island of Ireland.

Under the guidance of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the surveillance data gathered through the OH-ALLIES project is being compiled alongside that of twenty-two other EU Member States, to set up a coordinated surveillance system under the One Health approach for cross-border zoonotic pathogens that threaten the European Union, taking into account neighbouring 3^rd countries of concern.

Aims & Objectives

The primary aim of the OH-ALLIES project is to develop a framework that will support a sustainable long-term, multi-disciplinary approach to One Health surveillance activities on the island of Ireland. The overall objective is to enhance the capacities of competent authorities in charge of both human and animal health and combine them with relevant academic expertise.

The specific objectives of this proposal include:

1.   Establishing an All-Ireland One Health network across all disciplines.
2.   Building a coordinated surveillance programme for animal and human Influenza viruses.
3.   Re-evaluating the status of tick-borne encephalitis virus.
4.   Establishing an integrated surveillance system for rapid pathogen Y discovery.
5.   Evaluating and improving current IT surveillance systems for zoonotic pathogens.

These objectives will be achieved by building upon and enhancing existing collaborations, networks and surveillance activities on the island of Ireland.

Partners

Coordinator

Affiliated Entities

Associated Partners

Funding

The OH-ALLIES project is co-funded through the European Union (EU4Health Programme 2021-2027: EU4H-2022-DGA-MS-IBA3).  The EU4Health work programme, among other actions, provides funding to support a One Health approach across Europe to one of the biggest challenges facing public health: emerging infectious diseases.  The programme provides member states with an opportunity to enhance surveillance for a prioritised shortlist of zoonotic diseases (emerging infections) in animals and the environment which could have a public health impact.   It gave direct grants to Member States’ authorities to set up a coordinated surveillance system under the One Health approach for cross-border pathogens that threaten the Union.