World Health Day, being commemorated today, is sponsored yearly by the World Health Organisation. Thus one may be under the wrong impression that human health falls solely under WHO or, in a country context, under the health department.

However, human health is multidisciplinary and involves a large number of professions responsible for human health and medicine, animal health and environmental health.

In advancing healthcare for the 21st century, the ‘one world-one medicine-one health’ concept is being adopted internationally – a strategy for enhancing interdisciplinary communications and collaborations in all aspects of healthcare for humans, animals and the environment. If and when this concept is properly implemented, then it will help to protect and save millions of lives in our and future generations.

The consumer is ultimately responsible for the correct storage, handling and cooking of food.

The theme of this year’s World Health Day is food safety. This brings at the forefront the contribution towards human health by the veterinary profession. It is a well-known fact that over two million people die yearly due to unsafe food. Veterinarians play a major role in assuring the safety of food of animal origin. Healthy animals make healthy food.

Throughout the second half of the last millennium, intensive animal production became the norm of the day, as it was necessary to feed the increasing world population; but it brought about practices that increased the production of unsafe food.

Acknowledging that such practices had hindered the control of food safety, the veterinary profession set up the ‘stable-to-table’ approach, linking the entire chain of food production from animal feed and animal breeding to the moment food is placed on the consumer’s table.

The outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, and dioxin contamination highlighted the importance of tracing animal feed. Besides such serious contamination, antibiotics and other feed additives (including hormones) used to be added to the feed to promote rapid growth.

Disease can be transmitted to humans from animals or vice versa, either by direct contact or through vectors such as food

Due to the uncontrolled use of antibiotics, bacteria have become more resistant to these drugs at the expense of both human and animal health. EU member states’ veterinary services run the Food Residue Programme to control the illegal use of drugs and other contaminants such as heavy metals (lead and mercury) and pesticides.

Disease can be transmitted to humans from animals or vice versa, either by direct contact or through vectors such as food.

Malta has been free from Brucellosis or undulant fever and bovine tuberculosis prior to its joining the EU. But other food-borne diseases such as salmonella and the verotoxic strains of E. coli have emerged and are gaining ground, putting the state veterinary service on the alert at all times. Full traceability of food products is a must and is being achieved by animal identification and animal movement controls.

Animal welfare is another contributor to public health. Stressed animals are more likely to develop diseases which require veterinary treatment. This in turn may increase the presence of residues of veterinary medical products in animal products, potentially affecting public health. The transport of animals is another welfare problem, as movement of animals under stress is more likely to cause contamination of meat.

There is an increasing risk of global pandemics where infectious diseases harboured in wildlife can spill over to humans. The recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa is an eye-opener. This disease has spread so violently due to austerity measures (limited funding), unqualified officials employed under local political pressure and lack of proper communication by governments and international organisations, among other factors.

Following the avian influenza and Sars scare, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has been evaluating a large number of state veterinary services to help countries in strengthening their defence in controlling animal diseases and in applying food safety controls.

The stable-to-table approach to food safety can only be successful if the health and welfare of animals are fully integrated. The veterinary profession has a central role to play in ensuring food safety: veterinarians are present at every link in the food chain and have the knowledge and expertise to audit the standards of animal health, animal welfare and public health from stable to table.

Ultimately, food safety is also the responsibility of the consumer. The above approach to food safety might provide the highest level of consumer protection but it is the consumer who is ultimately responsible for the correct storage, handling and cooking of food. The safest food can become unsafe if handed inappropriately.

Carmel Lino Vella is a vet surgeon and consultant with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).