Israeli Health Ministry Adopts 'One Health' Approach to Tackle Climate-Driven Health Threats

The Israeli Ministry of Health is expanding its public health strategy to address emerging threats linked to climate change, according to Prof. Sigal Sadetzki, head of the Public Health Division. Speaking ahead of the Israeli Society for Ecology and Environmental Sciences annual conference, Sadetzki outlined the "One Health" concept, which integrates human, animal, plant, and environmental health with climate considerations. This multidisciplinary approach aims to improve policy, legislation, and research to better prepare for complex health challenges.

Sadetzki highlighted rabies outbreaks in Israel as a prime example of the need for cross-sector cooperation involving agriculture, human health, nature authorities, and environmental protection. She noted that climate change intensifies existing risks by increasing the frequency and severity of heatwaves, floods, wildfires, air and food pollution, zoonotic diseases, pandemics, and socio-political crises that impact water, electricity, and sanitation infrastructure.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness, shifting public and governmental attitudes toward proactive prevention and early detection. Israel benefits from clear borders that help contain biological threats, but environmental and zoonotic dangers transcend political boundaries, requiring coordinated regional responses.

Sadetzki expressed confidence in Israel’s health system readiness, citing recent experiences managing underground hospital care during conflicts and preparations for extreme weather events like the anticipated "super El Niño." She emphasized protecting vulnerable populations such as the elderly, pregnant women, and chronically ill patients. Adaptation measures include urban cooling centers, improved drainage, and shading to mitigate heat and flooding effects.

The ministry also actively monitors West Nile virus by trapping and testing mosquitoes before human cases emerge, exemplifying the One Health approach. Vaccination remains a key preventive tool amid declining immunization rates. Sadetzki concluded that the next health threat may originate from unexpected sources like insects, environmental contamination, or infrastructure failures, underscoring the need for early identification and cross-sector collaboration to save lives.