Frequently asked questions about the International …

1 Frequently asked questions about the International health regulations ( 2005 )I. What are the International HealthRegulations ( 2005 ) and why does The world community need themto enhance global public healthsecurity?The International health regulations ( 2005 ) or "IHR( 2005 )" are an International law which helps countries worktogether to save lives and livelihoods caused by theinternational spread of diseases and other health risks. Theyentered into force on 15 June 2007 and are binding on 194countries across the globe, including all WHOM ember IHR ( 2005 ) aim to prevent, protect against, controland respond to the International spread of disease whileavoiding unnecessary interference with International trafficand trade.

2 The IHR ( 2005 ) are also designed to reduce therisk of disease spread at International airports, ports and ground of an extraordinary global consensus, the IHR ( 2005 ) strengthen the collective defences against themultiple and varied public health risks that today s globalizedworld is facing and which have the potential to be rapidlyspread through expanding travel and trade. The IHR ( 2005 ) establish a set of rules to support theglobal outbreak alert and response system and to requirecountries to improve International surveillance and reportingmechanisms for public health events and to strengthen their national surveillance and response capacities.

3 This makes the IHR ( 2005 ) central to ensuring global public health security. II. What is the history of the IHR?The cholera epidemics that overran Europe between 1830and 1847 were catalysts for intensive infectious diseasediplomacy and multilateral cooperation in public health . Thisled to the first International Sanitary Conference in Paris in1851. In 1948, the WHO Constitution entered into force andin 1951 WHO Member States adopted the InternationalSanitary regulations , which were replaced by and renamedthe International health regulations in 1969. The 1969 regulations were subject to minor modifications in 1973 and 1981.

4 The 1969 IHR were primarily intended to monitor andcontrol six serious infectious diseases: cholera, plague, yellow fever, smallpox, relapsing fever and typhus. Under theIHR (1969), only cholera, plague and yellow fever remainnotifiable, meaning that States are required to notify WHO ifand when these diseases occur on their the early 1990s, the resurgence of some well knownepidemic diseases, such as cholera in parts of South America,plague in India and the emergence of new infectious agentssuch as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, resulted in a resolution atthe 48th World health Assembly in 1995 calling for the revision of the May 2001, the World health Assembly adoptedresolution WHA , Global health security.

5 Epidemic alertand response, in which WHO was called upon to support itsMember States in strengthening their capacity to detect andrespond rapidly to communicable disease threats and emergencies. In May 2003, resolution on Revision of theInternational health regulations , established anintergovernmental working group (IGWG) open to allMember States to review and recommend a draft revision ofthe International health regulations for consideration by theWorld health Assembly. The IGWG held two sessions inNovember 2004 and February/May 2005 with a view toendorsing a final text for consideration by the World HealthAssembly at its 58th meeting.

6 The World health Assemblyadopted the IHR ( 2005 ) on 23 May 2005 by way ofresolution The IHR ( 2005 ) entered into force on 15 June Why were the IHR revised?The limitations of the IHR (1969), which led to theirrevision, related to their narrow scope (three diseases), theirdependence on official country notification, and their lack ofa formal internationally coordinated mechanism to contain International disease spread. In recent decades, cross-border travel and trade haveincreased and communication technology has developedmarkedly. News now spreads rapidly via a multitude offormal and informal channels.

7 New challenges have arisen inthe public health control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. With its focus on just three diseases (cholera, plague andyellow fever), the IHR (1969) were not equipped to addressthe growing and varied public health risks that resulted fromincreased travel and trade in the last quarter of the 20th asked questions about the International health regulations ( 2005 )In addition, some countries were reluctant to promptlyreport outbreaks of these diseases for fear of unwarranted anddamaging travel and trade restrictions. A way needed to befound to increase the confidence of countries in reportingsignificant and/or unusual disease events, by linking earlydisclosure to prompt support and accurate information dissemination about the nature of the IHR ( 2005 ), which are firmly grounded in practicalexperience, broaden the scope of the 1969 regulations tocover existing, new and re-emerging diseases, includingemergencies caused by non-infectious disease a new legal framework, the IHR ( 2005 )

8 Ensure arapid gathering of information, a common understanding ofwhat may constitute a public health emergency ofinternational concern and the availability of International assistance to IHR ( 2005 ) s reporting procedures are aimed atexpediting the flow of timely and accurate information toWHO about potential public health emergencies ofinternational concern. Under these rules, WHO, as a neutralauthority, with critical technical expertise and resources, andan extensive communications network can assessinformation, recommend actions and facilitate or helpcoordinate technical assistance, when needed, that is tailored to events as they What are the main functions of the IHR ( 2005 )?

9 NotificationThe IHR ( 2005 ) require States to notify WHO of allevents that may constitute a public health emergency ofinternational concern and to respond to requests forverification of information regarding such events. Thisenables WHO to ensure appropriate technical collaborationfor effective prevention of such emergencies or containmentof outbreaks and, under certain defined circumstances, informother States of the public health risks where action is necessary on their part. These notification requirements, together with WHO smandate to seek verification from countries with respect tounofficial reports of events with potential internationalimplications is intended to promote and facilitate informationsharing between WHO and States Parties to the IHR ( 2005 ).

10 Greater understanding of the event as it unfolds, plus theassurance of timely technical collaboration, leads to a climateof greater willingness on the part of countries to contact theWHO when a possible public health emergency of International concern is suspected. National IHR Focal Points and WHO IHR Contact PointsUnder the IHR ( 2005 ) countries are required to notifyand report events and other information through theirNational IHR Focal Points to a regional WHO IHR ContactPoints Focal points and Contact points must be available ona 24 hour-a-day basis, seven days a week. There arecurrently 193 National IHR Focal Points and six corresponding WHO IHR Contact for national core capacitiesUnder the IHR ( 2005 ), each State Party is required todevelop, strengthen and maintain core public healthcapacities for surveillance and response by using existingnational resources, such as the national plans for influenzapandemic preparedness.