PUBLIC HEALTH EVENTS’ ASSESSMENT PER ANNEX-2 DECISION- INSTRUMENT OF THE IHR (2005) AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S IHR STATE PARTIES IN THE WHO EUROPEAN-REGION

Abstract

Intro: Guided by the annex-2 decision instrument of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, public health events are assessed and notified to WHO by the IHR State Parties. Similarly, using the secure Event Information Site (EIS), the WHO shares information with the IHR State Parties through their National Focal Points (NFPs). This abstract summarizes information about such events associated with the WHO European Region (EURO). Methods: From the EIS, a list of events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern shared by the WHO with the NFPs was extracted. This descriptive analysis includes data from 2007-2022 within the European Region or travel-associated while events occurred elsewhere. Findings: Of all the events (from six WHO Regions), 15% were associated with the European Region. The annual proportion varied such as 8% in 2007 and 22% in 2022. Events’ classification by hazards and syndromes showed infectious (89%) and acute respiratory syndromes (42%) as the most common causes. Per annex-2 of the IHR (2005), about 88% and 66% of events qualified for unusual/unexpected or serious public health impact respectively and 60% simultaneously qualified both the criteria. About 61% of events qualified for unusual/unexpected and having risk of international spread concurrently. Similarly, 55% events had risk of international spread and serious public health impact, simultaneously. About 16% had risk of interference with international travel/trade. The recent EIS communications (2019-2022) were related to monkeypox, COVID-19, hepatitis of unknown aetiology, human influenza caused by a new subtype and polio. Conclusion: The events’ assessment shared with the NFPs through the secure EIS platform is promptly accessible to all the IHR State Parties. Over the past fifteen years, such communications can improve situational awareness of events and facilitate information exchange for IHR State-Parties. Moreover, this encourages handling hazards at their source and strengthen readiness and response.