BSL‐4 laboratories, combatting conspiracies, and using a culture‐centered approach to improve risk and crisis communication in a One Health framework

Abstract

The COVID‐19 pandemic continues to pose a global zoonotic disease threat, highlighting the importance of developing strategies to combat new viruses and variants stemming from climate change and animal populations. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to address dis/misinformation surrounding such research. Collaborations across disciplines aid in actual responses to public health emergency events as well, easing the transition to a new equilibrium and impacting planning for future events. Russian disinformation regarding the joint work of Americans and Ukrainians as part of the Biological Threat Reduction Program is evidence of the need to educate the public about the real risks and benefits of zoonotic disease research. As seen in the recently released National Biodefense Strategy, political leaders in the United States are becoming more explicit about embracing a One Health framework for biodefense and public health emergency preparedness. This has significant benefits in terms of policy making by helping to dispel dis/misinformation, build trust in disease surveillance data, and give frontline workers such as those in the agricultural sector a voice in the conversation with which to share their expertise. A communication complex perspective applied through a culture‐centered approach to a One Health model aims to improve risk and crisis communication. This unique strategy will help government leaders as well as those in relevant sectors to speak to the unique questions and concerns of a particular population. Among other things, this helps to avoid an ineffective “cookie‐cutter” approach messaging. In this manuscript, we argue that coconstructing a cultural understanding of human, animal, and environmental health practices within a unique culture will lead to a specialized risk and crisis communication plan accepted by local communities.