One Health ethics in practice: ASF, wild boars and the economic determinants of health in Spain

Background

The One Health approach promotes an integrated understanding of human, animal and environmental health. However, its ethical framework remains challenged when addressing cases where non-human health threats do not directly impact human health but significantly affect socio-economic systems. The management of wild boars infected with African Swine Fever (ASF) in Spain exemplifies this tension, as these animals pose no direct zoonotic risk yet threaten food systems and economic stability, both key social determinants of health.

Methods

I combine philosophical analysis with a targeted scoping review of grey literature on ASF management in wild boar populations in Spain. Sources include policy documents, technical reports and institutional guidelines. The analysis examines how ethical justifications align with One Health principles when economic, ecological and animal health considerations intersect.

Results

Findings reveal a persistent anthropocentric bias in decision-making, where interventions are primarily justified by their economic impact rather than by consideration of animal or ecological health. This generates ethical tensions between disease control strategies (e.g., culling and confinement) and broader One Health commitments. Additionally, the case highlights how economic stability—linked to livestock production and food security—functions as a critical determinant of public health, reinforcing the prioritization of human-centered outcomes.

Conclusions

The ASF case in wild boars exposes a gap between the normative aspirations of One Health ethics and its practical implementation. It underscores the need to critically reassess how economic considerations shape public health responses and to what extent non-human health is genuinely integrated into ethical frameworks. Addressing these tensions is essential for developing more coherent and equitable One Health strategies in the face of emerging threats.

Key messages

• ASF management in wild boars shows a moral gap in One Health: economic priorities drive decisions, often sidelining animal and ecosystem health.

• Economic stability acts as a structural determinant of health, shaping public health responses even when threats are non-zoonotic.