Governor Phil Murphy proclaimed November 3, 2025 as One Health Day in the State of New Jersey. One Health Day is an international awareness campaign observed annually on November 3 and promoted by a variety of organizations, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One Health is an approach recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant, and environmental health, and promotes collaboration to address these interdisciplinary issues.
This year, New Jersey has much to celebrate on One Health Day. New Jersey led the nation as the first state to pass legislation creating a One Health initiative. In February, the New Jersey One Health Task Force held its inaugural meeting, and in May, approved the One Health Strategic Plan.
“New Jersey’s agricultural industry sits at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn. “By working across state departments, we’re recognizing how important it is to maintain balance among all three. It’s important to recognize that our communities stay healthy when our environment and farms are healthy too.”
“From monitoring West Nile virus in mosquito populations to tracking bird flu in wildlife, New Jersey’s One Health approach allows us to detect and respond to threats early,” said Acting New Jersey Health Commissioner Jeff Brown. “By bringing together our veterinary, environmental, and public health experts, we’ve built a stronger defense against emerging health threats that helps us stop them before they reach our communities. This integrated model makes New Jersey a national leader in preventing tomorrow’s health emergencies today.”
“Partnerships are at the heart of the Murphy Administration’s commitment on multiple fronts to enhance quality of life across communities, protect public health, and to ensure a pristine environment for future generations,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “One Health Day in New Jersey underscores these initiatives by recognizing that when we all work together, the entire state benefits.”
The New Jersey One Health Task Force (NJOHTF) comprises representatives from the New Jersey Departments of Environmental Protection, Health, and Agriculture, plus 10 public appointed members including veterinarians, physicians, and environmental scientists. The NJOHTF aims to strengthen interdisciplinary research and collaboration, foster a holistic understanding of health among New Jersey residents, promote data accessibility, and facilitate the development of new approaches for identifying and responding to health threats that affect people, animals, plants, and ecosystems. The NJOHTF is also
tasked with drafting an annual report for the Governor and Legislature that includes recommendations for action to improve, promote, and protect health.
New Jersey residents who want to spread awareness about the need for an interdisciplinary, One Health approach to many of NJ’s most pressing issues by sharing social media posts about One Health Day with the hashtags #OneHealth, #NJOneHealth and #OneHealthDay. More information about One Health Day can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/one-health/php/trainings-events/one-health-day.html.
The next quarterly public meeting of the NJOHTF will be on November 21, 2025, at 10:00 am in Trenton and on Teams (agenda and link will be posted on the NJOHTF website). To stay up to date with NJ’s One Health initiative, sign up for the OneHealthConnect listserv.
More information about One Health and the NJOHTF’s efforts can be found at OneHealth.NJ.gov and in the One Health Strategic Plan.