The Microscopic Battlefield: How Pathogens Navigate the Whole Ecosystem?
Wed Feb 04 2026
Welcome to the MediHealth Podcast. In today’sepisode, we welcome Professor Kam, who shares his insights on an important public health concept known as One Health. Professor Kam has long worked in the fields of immunology and infectious diseases, with research experience in bothSingapore and China.
Professor Kam explains that One Health emphasizesthat human health does not exist in isolation. Instead, it is closely connected to animals and the environment. In the past, infectious disease research mainlyfocused on the virus itself, such as how it spreads, how the immune system responds, and how vaccines and medicines can be developed. However, asecosystems continue to change, people have gradually realized that medical approaches alone are not enough to solve these problems at their root.
He highlights the critical role of environmentalfactors. Deforestation, urbanization, the spread of disease vectors, and climate change all increase the chances of contact between animals and humans,which raises the risk of disease transmission. If we only focus on the relationship between humans and animals, diseases may continue to reappear.This shows that environmental factors must be included in a broader framework in order to better manage future health challenges.
Professor Kam also notes that the environmentinfluences non-communicable diseases as well. Pollution, chemical exposure, and long-term ecological changes caused by plastic use may eventually come back toharm human health, even affecting future generations.
Finally, Professor Kam points out that one of thekey challenges in promoting the One Health approach lies in policy and public communication. Scientific discoveries need to enter society in a transparent and open way in order to build trust and make a real impact.
Thank you to Professor Kam for sharing histhoughts, and thanks all for tuning in. We’ll see you next time.
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Welcome to the MediHealth Podcast. In today’sepisode, we welcome Professor Kam, who shares his insights on an important public health concept known as One Health. Professor Kam has long worked in the fields of immunology and infectious diseases, with research experience in bothSingapore and China. Professor Kam explains that One Health emphasizesthat human health does not exist in isolation. Instead, it is closely connected to animals and the environment. In the past, infectious disease research mainlyfocused on the virus itself, such as how it spreads, how the immune system responds, and how vaccines and medicines can be developed. However, asecosystems continue to change, people have gradually realized that medical approaches alone are not enough to solve these problems at their root. He highlights the critical role of environmentalfactors. Deforestation, urbanization, the spread of disease vectors, and climate change all increase the chances of contact between animals and humans,which raises the risk of disease transmission. If we only focus on the relationship between humans and animals, diseases may continue to reappear.This shows that environmental factors must be included in a broader framework in order to better manage future health challenges. Professor Kam also notes that the environmentinfluences non-communicable diseases as well. Pollution, chemical exposure, and long-term ecological changes caused by plastic use may eventually come back toharm human health, even affecting future generations. Finally, Professor Kam points out that one of thekey challenges in promoting the One Health approach lies in policy and public communication. Scientific discoveries need to enter society in a transparent and open way in order to build trust and make a real impact. Thank you to Professor Kam for sharing histhoughts, and thanks all for tuning in. We’ll see you next time.