WHO guidance for the use of Annex 2 of the International Health Regulations (2005)
Under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR (2005)), States Parties are required to carry out an assessment of public health events occurring within their territories utilizing the decision instrument provided in Annex 2 of the Regulations, and then to notify WHO of all qualifying events within 24 hours of such an assessment.
WHO previously published interim guidance on Annex 2, which was reviewed by a group of experts and users from around the world during a technical consultation held in Geneva in October 2008. This revised version of the guidance document builds on the recommendations of this consultation and on input from WHO Regional Offices. Importantly, a number of case scenarios were added to illustrate the application of the assessment criteria. The guidance document also includes the IHR case definitions for the four notifiable disease entities. Later this year, key findings from the first studies on the functioning of Annex 2 will be considered and may result in further updating of this guidance.
The purpose of the WHO guidance on Annex 2 is to help national authorities to use the decision instrument in assessing public health events that may require notification to WHO. The guidance document is targeted to National IHR Focal Points and others responsible for assessing the need to notify WHO of public health events under the Regulations.
This document will shortly be available in all six languages of the World Health Assembly