I got back from my trip to Hotlanta, er, Atlanta, GA to attend the AVMA Convention for AVMF-related activities. I had my ears open for anything related to One Health.
Did I learn anything new about One Health?
I’m excited to say that One Health was a topic of discussion at the House of Delegates meeting (veterinary leadership group) as it related to national and international activities, as well as at the two meetings I was able to squeeze in (there were more One Health topics available, but I wasn’t able to go to more given my schedule).
I think the most practical take home message for anyone was the concept of a YOPI from Kate Hodgson, DVM, MHSc, CCMEP. What’s a YOPI? It the acronym which helps us remember who is most at risk of getting a disease from an animal (that is, a zoonotic disease).
- Y stands for young. I would say that anyone under 6 years old, or kids in preschool, can be considered young.
- O stands for old. For argument’s sake, let’s say that anyone over 60 years old falls into this category- whether you’re young at heart or not.
- P stands for pregnant. So if you’re a woman, and there’s any chance you’re pregnant, then you probably fit into this category.
- I stands for immunocompromised. If you don’t know what this means for you, ask your doctor if you could be considered immunocompromised.
Being at risk doesn’t mean you can’t interact safely with animals, it just means you need to be a little more cautious. Do you have a family member, any family member or loved one that could be considered a YOPI? Then you care about their risks of getting a zoonotic disease.
Want to make sure that all animals are treated for diseases that can be spread to any of your family members? Want to make sure that all dogs and cats are healthy? Then consider making a donation to The van Bakeren Foundation today. Donations in any amount are most appreciated!
