Communicating risk in public health emergencies

During public health emergencies, one essential lifesaving action is to ensure people know how to protect their health. By understanding risks, people can make informed decisions to protect themselves, their loved ones and those around them against the impact of a threat or hazard – such as a disease outbreak. Risk communication is the real-time exchange of information, advice and opinions between experts, or officials and people who face a hazard or threat to their survival, health, or economic or social wellbeing. Therefore, effective risk communication is central to saving lives and reducing illness and for preserving social, economic and political stability in emergencies.

Risk communication has proven to be a critical tool in emergency preparedness and response. It is a core capacity of  the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and is a priority area within the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF) and the Health Emergency Preparedness Response and Resilience (HEPR) Framework.

During outbreaks and emergencies, WHO works with Member States and partners to ensure that at-risk and vulnerable people have the information they need to protect their health and safety. Countries in the Region are encouraged to reuse any of the messaging and materials posted here and adapt them for their own local context.