#90 Billy Karesh and how the One Health term was born (USA) episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 23, 2026 · 28 MIN

#90 Billy Karesh and how the One Health term was born (USA)

from Wildlife Health Talks

The term One Health didn't come out of a strategy meeting or a peer-reviewed paper. It came out of an interview with a journalist who wouldn't drop a question. Dr. Billy Karesh was explaining why Ebola killing gorillas mattered, and the reporter kept pushing: is this a human disease or an animal one? Eventually Billy said there's just one health, the pathogens don't care about our categories.Recorded in Chicago for the WDA History project, Billy looks back on building WCS's field veterinary program from nothing in 1989, the first WDA meeting he actually remembers, and what it means to hand the next generation a rapidly evolving organisation in a rapidly evolving world filled with wildlife health challenges. Plus the direction he's quietly moving in after 40 years with animals. It involves plants.LinkBilly Karesh's LinkedIn profileWe'd love to hear from you ... share your thoughts, feedback and ideas.

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The term One Health didn't come out of a strategy meeting or a peer-reviewed paper. It came out of an interview with a journalist who wouldn't drop a question. Dr. Billy Karesh was explaining why Ebola killing gorillas mattered, and the reporter kept pushing: is this a human disease or an animal one? Eventually Billy said there's just one health, the pathogens don't care about our categories. Recorded in Chicago for the WDA History project, Billy looks back on building WCS's field veterinary...

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#90 Billy Karesh and how the One Health term was born (USA)

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