OUR EXPERTISE
Research
For a disease to be present, many factors have to converge. Each agent requires a specific environment to be able to survive and reproduce. Human and animal health are interdependent and linked to their ecosystems. Because of that complexity, we do studies applying eco-epidemiological methods and use geotechnology applications as geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS). We implement these procedures to study disease ecology and behavior, determine risk areas and predict future outbreaks. We lead and direct research studies from inception through completion to promote and maintain health in the communities.
Education and Training
Meraki One Health aims to educate, mentor and train people to use eco-epidemiological methodologies and innovative geotechnologies such as geographic information systems and remote sensing tools for the study of diseases. We work toward making quality education accessible, innovative, clear and inclusive.
We are certain that training and educating the community with the One Health – One Welfare perspective is one of the most effective ways to prevent and control diseases.
Meraki One Health works toward making
education in health accessible to the community.
Consultancy
Meraki One Health offers consultancy in the control and prevention of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and zoonosis with an eco-epidemiological approach and innovative geotechnology applications. In addition of studying the host and agent, we also take into account environmental and climatic factors as well as socioeconomics, demographics, behavioral and cultural elements that impact the epidemiology of diseases in humans and animals.
Our job ranges from data analysis, protocol development, planning and executing epidemiological studies, implementing adequate surveillance methods, to designing and constructing GIS and RS facilities for the study, detection and rapid response to outbreaks or epidemics. We structure and monitor complete studies tailored in each instance in order to facilitate the process of decision-making, policymaking and effective allocation of health resources.
What We Address
For our work in the study, control and prevention we address four of the main drivers of emerging and re-emerging diseases.
Climate change
Climate change is the greatest threat to global health.
Global warming is one of the most important indicators of rise in global temperatures and is linked to major impacts on humans, animals and ecosystems. The adverse impacts associated with global warming include natural disasters, loss of biodiversity, relocation and colonization of new species. These environmental effects make ecosystems prone to proliferation of disease agents, and vectors, as well as to the appearance of new
hosts, thus changing the spatial and temporal distribution of infectious diseases.
Changes in land use and land cover
Changes in land use and land cover are among the main factors that modify the natural history and ecology of diseases, especially vector-borne diseases and zoonosis. Wildlife and native species are the most affected by the change of habitat and new threats. Land use changes can affect water quality, alter aquatic ecosystems and compromise human and animal water supplies. It can also damage the soil, putting in danger the safety and security of food. The major drivers are deforestation, dam building, mining, population growth and urbanization. With this fragmentation, humans, domestic animals and livestock are exposed to new diseases.
Animal welfare
According to the world organization for animal health (OIE), animal welfare means the physical and mental state of an animal in relation to the conditions in which it lives and dies. Animal welfare becomes compromised when animals do not have freedom from:
1) hunger and thirst
2) discomfort
3) pain, injury, or disease
4) fear and distress
5) when they do not have to express normal behavior according to their species.
When animals experience these impacts in their environment, they become susceptible to infections, thus increasing the risk of disease transmission, creating the proper conditions for pathogens to jump between species. Due to the rise in live animal trade (mainly livestock and wildlife) and intensification of food production derived from animals, welfare protocols and laws have been created to protect human and animal’s health.
MIGRATION AND GLOBALIZATION
Migration is a global phenomenon where individuals move from one geographic region to another. Changes in climate and land use make people and migratory animals susceptible to new infections and potential spreaders of pathogens.
Migrants and displaced people are considered at higher risk of contracting infectious diseases because of the vast geographical distances they travel, stress, exhaustion and lack of rights to health coverage.
Globalization has been the major cause of pathogens’ dissemination causing a change in the global burden of infectious diseases.
