One Health Working Group Co-Chair Interview: Xiao-Nong Zhou

The concept of One Health has become crucial in the modern public health landscape, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. This integrated approach fosters collaboration across sectors to tackle public health challenges such as emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food security and climate change. In this interview, we speak with Xiao-Nong Zhou, Chief Scientist of Parasitic Disease Control at the China CDC, about his extensive public health career and leadership role in the One Health Working Group under the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA).

Introduce yourself.

Xiao-Nong Zhou: I’m Xiao-Nong Zhou, and I’ve been working at the China CDC for a long time. I’ve spent 40 years focusing on schistosomiasis epidemiology. I am serving as the China CDC’s Chief Scientist on Parasitic Disease Control for a decade after serving as Director of the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at China CDC (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research). I’m also the chairperson of the Association for Global Health under the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association (CPMA). The CPMA has a strong relationship with the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), as the Asia-Pacific office of the Federation is located in CPMA. Earlier this year, we established the One Health Working Group, which I co-chair with Carlos Machado from Brazil. The secretariat is housed at the School of Global Health, cosponsored by Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases in Shanghai, China. I’m excited to contribute further to the Federation’s work through this group.

What motivated you to pursue a career in the public health sector

Xiao-Nong Zhou: That’s a very important question. I grew up in a town in Kunshan County of China, a highly endemic area for schistosomiasis, a disease transmitted by snails, which significantly impacted me. The disease was widespread, especially in the Yangtze River Delta, and posed a severe public health challenge in history. After studying at university, I focused on controlling the disease, specifically targeting the infected snail populations spreading it.

For my master’s degree, I researched the ecology of snails, and for my PhD in Denmark, I delved into the biology and molecular biology of snails. After completing my studies, I focused on the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in the national control program for schistosomiasis and other tropical diseases. In 2001, I joined the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases under the China CDC and began working on tropical diseases at a global level. This led to collaborations with organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), where I served on expert tropical diseases and malaria committees. All these experiences allowed me to view public health globally, moving from provincial to national and now to global health issues.

How long have you been associated with the World Federation of Public Health Associations?

Xiao-Nong Zhou: I first became involved with the WFPHA in 2015 when I visited Geneva to discuss collaboration between the CPMA and the Federation. This was my first exposure to the Federation. Since then, I have participated in several public health events, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, where I helped organize a webinar titled “One Health System Thinking,” which brought together international experts in the field of One Health. Through these experiences, I realized the need for a more formalized One Health Working Group within the Federation.

Could you elaborate on your working group’s current activities and share your vision and plans for the future

Xiao-Nong Zhou: The One Health Working Group has three primary objectives. First, we aim to promote global cooperation to establish One Health platforms. Second, we are enhancing dissemination efforts to influence policy and practice in the field. Lastly, we want to improve knowledge and capacity building on One Health globally. 

Our group includes members from different regions, including Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. We have had several discussions and are focusing on these three objectives as our guiding principles for at least the next three years.

How do the working group’s activities align with supporting and implementing the World Federation of Public Health Associations’ Strategic Plan?

Xiao-Nong Zhou: The Federation’s mission is to protect people and the planet by preventing diseases and promoting health, well-being, and peace. This aligns directly with the One Health concept, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health. Our work improves societal well-being by addressing these interconnected factors holistically.

One Health as a concept gained prominence after the SARS outbreak in 2003, but practical implementation was lacking until the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, organizations like WHO, FAO, UNEP, and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) are jointly promoting One Health by setting up platforms for action. I am fortunate to be a member of the second term of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel, which allows me to contribute directly to global efforts and bring those insights back to our working group.

How has being part of the World Federation of Public Health Associations and its network enhanced the activities of your working group and expanded its reach?

Xiao-Nong Zhou: The Federation is well-connected with WHO and other international organizations, particularly in Geneva, where many UN agencies are based. Through the Federation, our working group can engage with a broader range of human, animal, and environmental health stakeholders. This helps us provide information and guidelines and communicate and coordinate efforts with other organizations working on health-related issues.

This platform has allowed us to integrate One Health principles into broader health policies, meaningfully impacting health systems worldwide.

How does being part of the World Federation of Public Health Associations facilitate your group’s collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health sectors?

Xiao-Nong Zhou: As I mentioned earlier, the Federation provides a unique platform to connect with other organizations like the World Bank, FAO, and UNEP. This allows us to unite human, animal, and environmental health experts to work on common goals. Additionally, my position on the One Health High-Level Expert Panel Term II allows me to link our group with global experts, helping us develop case studies and promote One Health approaches across sectors.

We are already exploring ways to implement One Health principles in developing countries, where these approaches can be cost-effective in preventing future pandemics and reducing disease burdens.

How does the working group contribute to global knowledge and capacity building on One Health principles?

Xiao-Nong Zhou: Our working group has identified three main approaches to disseminating One Health knowledge. First, we use our members’ network to share knowledge globally, regionally, and nationally. We aim to set up a knowledge hub to support these efforts. Second, we are identifying new actions, lessons, and experiences from different countries that have successfully integrated One Health principles, especially by incorporating local cultures. Lastly, we plan to develop technical guidelines for One Health practice. We hope organizations like WHO or FAO will adopt these guidelines to guide national action plans.

What unique opportunities has membership in the World Federation of Public Health Associations provided for your group’s One Health initiatives?

Xiao-Nong Zhou: The Federation has allowed us to create a knowledge hub, connecting different regions and countries to share expertise. This allows our working group to provide technical guidance and advice to national governments looking to implement the One Health approach. The Federation’s global network gives us a platform to scale our initiatives and ensure that countries have access to the expertise they need to prevent pandemics and reduce disease burdens using the One Health approach.

Would you like to comment on or mention anything else we didn’t cover with the questions?

Xiao-Nong Zhou: Yes, I want to emphasize the importance of integrating One Health into efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance, global warming, and food safety. More than 65% of emerging infectious diseases originate from animals, and addressing these requires a coordinated, multisectoral approach. Our working group hopes to involve more experts from different sectors to tackle these challenges. This will require strong governance and support from the Federation, but with their help, we can significantly impact global health.

Conclusion

Xiao-Nong Zhou’s career is a testament to integrating public, animal, and environmental health into a unified approach. Through his leadership in the One Health Working Group under the WFPHA, Dr. Zhou is working to promote global cooperation, influence policy, and build capacity to address health challenges at the human-animal-environment interface. His vision for the future is clear: strong governance, collaboration across sectors, and integrating One Health principles into global health strategies are essential to ensuring a healthier world.

By embracing the One Health approach, we can prevent future pandemics, mitigate the effects of climate change on health, and protect both human and animal populations for generations to come.

Working member groups:

Prof. Xiao-Nong Zhou, Chief Scientist on parasitic disease control of China CDC; Deputy Dean of School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China 

Prof. Carlos Machado, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil 

Prof. Mayumi Wakimoto, Researcher, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil 

Dr. Issam Bennis, Assistant Professor of Public Health, Mohammed VI University of Sciences, and Health Casablanca, Morocco 

Dr. Somphou Sayason, Deputy Director, Laos Tropical and Public Health Institute, Ministry of Health, Lao PDR 

Prof. Roger Frutos, Senior Researcher, French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), Montpellier, France

Prof. Lee Willingham, Chair, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates