IHR News
The WHO quarterly bulletin on IHR implementation
What's new in IHR coordination and support?
61ST WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON IHR IMPLEMENTATION
The 61st World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on “Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)”. The resolution calls on countries to continue their efforts to fulfill the requirements set out in the IHR, including: (1) ensuring that contact details of National IHR Focal Points are up-to-date and that national surveillance and response capacities requirements as set out in Annex 1 of the IHR are developed; (2) designating an expert for the IHR Roster of Experts, if they have not already done so; and (3) continuing to collaborate with each other and with WHO to implement the IHR. In parallel, the Assembly requested that the WHO Director-General: (1) report annually on IHR implementation, on both States Parties and WHO activities; (2) continue to support countries with vulnerable health systems to strengthen surveillance and response capacities at points of entry; and (3) encourage communication between National IHR Focal Points. The resolution is available at
STATES PARTIES’ REPORTS ON PROGRESS TOWARDS IHR IMPLEMENTATION
The IHR Coordination Programme is compiling the first annual report on States Parties’ progress towards implementing the IHR requirements. This report is based on information received from States Parties, who were asked to answer a questionnaire that was developed by the WHO Secretariat and made available in the six official languages. The questionnaire was designed to be concise and take into account the fact that the revised IHR will have been in force for a relatively brief period prior to the submission of this first report. This initial reporting may therefore be considered as contributing to the establishment of a baseline from which more detailed reports may be developed. As of 18 June, 144 States Parties have submitted completed reports to the WHO secretariat. To view the proposed reporting format please visit:
IHR EXERCISE
Following a series of smaller scale exercises after the entry into force of the revised IHR, on 11 and 12 June WHO carried out a Public Health Security Exercise (PHSX) to test IHR alert and response procedures worldwide. This exercise took place across several WHO Regions, including Country Offices, and at WHO Headquarters. The exercise proved to be a useful learning event that has shown where IHR alert and response and where improvements need to be made. For further information:
IHR TECHNICAL CONSULTATION ON NATIONAL CORE ALERT AND RESPONSE CAPACITIES AND INDICATORS
From 13 to 15 May 2008, WHO convened a technical consultancy in Lyon, France on the minimum core capacities required by the Member States to implement the IHR. The technical meeting brought together participants from WHO headquarters and the six regional offices, as well as from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Institut de Veille Sanitaire (INVS), the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Africa 2010 Project, the National Institute of Health Japan, the Ministry of Health, Yemen, and other international partners. The main objective was to develop a list of indicators to monitor IHR implementation at WHO and national levels. A meeting summary and full meeting report will be available at:
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT – POINTS OF ENTRY: REGIONAL WORKING GROUP MEETING
On 26 and 27 June 2008, the WHO Lyon Office for Epidemic Preparedness and Response, IHR Coordination Programme, hosted the informal transportation working group meeting on guidelines for ground crossings in Brasília, Brazil. The meeting continued on the work done by the Informal Transportation Working Group meeting held in Vancouver, Canada, in 2006, on the development of technical guidance for IHR implementation at international points of entry. The main objective was to develop draft procedures for ground crossings according to the IHR provisions. For further information or queries on the above meeting please contact: ihrtransport@who.int
JOINT WHO-CDC INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH LABORATORY QUALITY SYSTEMS, LYON, FRANCE
From 9 to 11 April 2008, the WHO Lyon Office for National Epidemic Preparedness and Response, in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta held an International Conference on Health Laboratory Quality Systems in Lyon, France, with over 200 experts from all over the world. The main objectives of this conference were: I) to help enhance health laboratory quality, which needs to be addressed particularly in resource–limited settings, and ii) to propose guidance on quality systems development and implementation at national level. For further information please visit:
IHR E-LIBRARY
The IHR Resource Centre has been renamed IHR e-library to better define this “electronic” tool, which currently gives access to key IHR or IHR related (technical) documentation. We invite readers to check in regularly for new items on this page that features tools and information to assist countries with the implementation process, such as the upcoming IHR online briefing for National IHR Focal Points and other stakeholders.
Also in the pipeline: moving towards a suitable IT tool for:
- user-friendly access to a broader range of material and resources in the fields of communication and advocacy, training and education, legal issues, bibliography…
- keyword searching, improved browsing…
Visit us at
For information or suggestions on the IHR e-library, please contact Mrs Marie Luy at: luym@lyon.who.int