Colorado Agencies Sign Landmark One Health Agreement to Protect Public, Animal, and Environmental Health

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DENVER ~ Denver, CO - In honor of national One Health Day, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) have joined forces to enhance interagency cooperation and information sharing through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This agreement, signed today, aims to promote a collaborative approach to addressing health issues that intersect between humans, animals, and the environment.

The One Health Initiative recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health. It calls for the collaboration of various disciplines at local, national, and global levels to achieve optimal health for all. Governor Polis praised this initiative as a prime example of Colorado's commitment to expanding collaborative approaches to health. He stated that by bringing together experts from different agencies, they are building a stronger and healthier Colorado for both humans and animals.

The MOU strengthens the ability of Colorado's leading health, agriculture, and wildlife agencies to work together on a wide range of concerns such as zoonotic diseases, foodborne illness outbreaks, and bioterrorism threats. "This MOU is a critical step forward for Colorado's commitment to One Health," said Dr. Maggie Baldwin, Colorado State Veterinarian. "By formalizing the collaboration between state agencies, we can better protect our livestock industry, ensure food safety, and respond swiftly to any health threats that impact our communities and agricultural resources."

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The agreement outlines specific protocols for sharing sensitive data while maintaining confidentiality. It also defines the roles and responsibilities of each agency in responding to public health events and establishes clear communication channels. This MOU supersedes a previous 2007 agreement between CDA and CDPHE but expands its scope to include CPW in addressing contemporary health challenges.

Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director of CDPHE emphasized the importance of being aligned before a crisis occurs. "The fastest, most effective response to health threats happens when agencies are aligned before a crisis begins, and this agreement gives us the structure to move quickly and in sync when human, animal, or environmental health is at risk," she said.

The MOU outlines the authorities of each agency, with CDA responsible for livestock health, CDPHE for public health, and CPW for wildlife management. "Wildlife plays a central role in the health of Colorado's people and environment," said CPW Director Jeff Davis. "This agreement strengthens our partnerships with CDA and CDPHE, allowing us to share expertise and respond more effectively to emerging health concerns that cross the boundaries between wildlife, livestock, and human communities."

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By signing this MOU, Colorado is taking a proactive stance in addressing complex health challenges through a unified, interdisciplinary strategy. The goal is to foster proactive data sharing to identify emerging threats earlier, facilitate more efficient deployment of resources during emergencies, and ultimately lead to a more coordinated and effective health and safety infrastructure across the state.

The agencies will review the agreement every two years to ensure its continued effectiveness and adapt to any evolving health landscapes or legal requirements. This MOU sets an example for other states to follow in promoting collaboration between agencies for the betterment of public health.

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