Joint Assessment and Detection of Events (JADE)

IHR stands for International Health Regulations (2005). The IHR are the overarching legal framework that defines how countries must prevent, prepare for, report and respond to public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders. This includes outbreaks of disease, but because the IHR is an all-hazards instrument, it also includes chemical and radiological hazards.

A National IHR Focal Point (NFP) is a national office or centre that communicates with WHO and other relevant sectors within the country and is often responsible for response coordination, including risk assessments. During an emergency, when the information being shared can become overwhelming, the NFP provides one clear line of communication with each country.

JADE stands for Joint Assessment and Detection of Events. JADE exercises take place annually to test communication and risk assessment capacities during a public health emergency. In addition, the exercises put collaboration and coordination between the NFPs and WHO’s Regional IHR Focal Point, and other essential roles of the NFPs, under the spotlight.

The 2023 JADE exercise focused on Annex 2 of the IHR (2005), as well as the role of the NFPs. Annex 2 provides a decision-making tool for NFPs, collaborating with national stakeholders, particularly radiological-nuclear authorities, to determine whether they need to notify WHO of a public health event. Participants were able to access the Event Information Site (EIS), an information sharing platform for NFPs. In the event of a public health incident, European Union (EU) countries and those from the European Economic Area were asked to create a notification through the EU’s Early Warning and Response System, established by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). 

The exercise involved 150 participants from 43 state parties. The scenario consisted of an incident at a radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility that released radioactive iodine (I-131) into the environment. The radioactive substance was detected in water, grass and fresh milk. Additionally, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred in the surrounding area, and symptoms resembled potential acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Misinformation about this was spread on social media.

The NFPs used the opportunity to practice, improve and evaluate public health actions with their national authorities and WHO under the IHR (2005). The exercise confirmed that procedures for information-sharing through the EIS are well-established in participating countries.