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Zoonotic Disease Prioritization for Inter-sectoral Engagement in Cameroon
Summary of the methodology, process and results from a zoonotic diasease prioritization in Cameroon.
Relevant Section:
All
Shipment booking form for COVID-19 clinical samples
WHO is working with World Courier to make easy the process of sample shipment to reference laboratories for COVID-19 testing. This form is therefore used to book a shipment of COVID-19 samples through world courier.
Relevant Section:
All
IHR Key Obligations and Rights for States Parties, Summary Table
The table summarizes the key obligations and rights for States Parties contained in the International Health Regulations (2005)
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All
Principles of emergency management and emergency operations centers (EOC)
This book is based on more than four decades of experience and provides a clear and up-to-date understanding of how an EOC should operate within the guidance of various federal and national programs.
Relevant Section:
57-63 & 281-299,163-281
Danish Executive Order on Securing Specific Biological Substances, Delivery Systems and Related Materials
Executive Order on securing specific biological substances, delivery systems and related materials.
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All
Ebola risk communication project in Liberia: Lessons in crisis communication
This report seeks to summarize and to discuss the types and qualities of Ebola-related communication strategies used in Liberia during the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic.
Relevant Section:
79-85
National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance: Government of India
AMR national action plan from India.
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All
An Efficient and Practical Approach to Biosecurity
Book detailing important steps for instituting a biosecurity system and legislation. The book builds from Denmark's process and lessons learned implementing a comprehensive biosecurity law and system.
Relevant Section:
29-36
TEPHINET Member Programs
List/overview of 71 global field epidemiology training programs.
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All
Government of Kenya National Action Plan on Prevention and Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2022
National action plan for prevention and containment of AMR from Kenya.
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All
Risk Communication and Public Health
This book covers the theoretical and research background on risk communication, presents a wide range of contemporary case studies, and concludes with an analysis of the lessons learned and recommendations for the future.
Relevant Section:
Ch 5
Competencies for Population Health Professionals
This report outlines a set of skills desirable for professionals that work in hospital, health system, public health, healthcare systems who are engaged in the assessment of population health needs and the development, delivery, and improvement of population health programs, services, and practices.
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All
Event Based Surveillance- Promed
Newly described or unknown diseases, epidemics, and outbreaks•Emergence of diseases in new areas or populations, Emphasis on diseases of plants and animals that might affect human populations, Upholds “One Health” and recognizes the importance of diseases that affect plants and animals of agricultural importance, as well as zoonoses
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All
One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization for Multisectoral Engagement in Burkina Faso
Country Specific zoonotic disease prioritization reports from Burkina Faso.
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9-13
One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization for Multisectoral Engagement in Tanzania
Country specific zoonotic disease prioritization workshop reports from Tanzania.
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15-18
One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization for Multi-Sectoral Engagement in Uganda
Summary of the methodology, process, and results of a zoonotic disease prioritization workshop in Uganda.
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All
Enhancing Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
Management for Vulnerable Populations: Literature Review
This literature review seeks to describe promising communication strategies for public health emergency risk communication, summarize the quality and content of the existing peer-reviewed literature, and identify gaps in knowledge.
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All
Effective Public Health Emergency Laws: A Legal Guide
This guide identifies twelve characteristics of effective public health emergency laws based on the lessons of Covid-19. The guide describes the key necessary elements for each characteristic, provides assessment questions to evaluate whether the legal framework achieves these features, and cites additional resources. The guide is intended as an educational tool for legal and non-legal stakeholders.
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All
Financial Management of Emergency Response Costs during Provincial Activations.
Provides an outline of the main financial management policies and procedures in effect, in British Columbia (Canada), when dealing with emergency response costs incurred during the activation of the provincial emergency management response structure.
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All
MSB Handbook: Evaluation of Exercises (Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (2011)
The handbook of evaluation primarily targets professionals and practitioners within authorities, municipalities or organisations, who already possess a good level of knowledge about training operations in general. The handbook is part of MSB’s support of methods aimed at developing actors’ ability to conduct and evaluate exercises independently.
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All
An Efficient and Practical Approach to Biosecurity
The aim of an efficient and practical approach to Biosecurity is to draw upon the Danish experiences with Biosecurity to suggest an efficient and practical model that other countries can use as a blueprint for establishing or improving their own biosecurity systems.
Relevant Section:
17-86, 87-220, All, 221-266
Law and the JEE: Lessons for IHR Implementation
This article uses 3 case studies to describe a role for law in IHR implementation. It highlights the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Global Health Security Public Health Law Project and describes how legal mapping data and the resources developed are being used by countries to strengthen health systems and support IHR implementation
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All
Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) Legal Framework Guide: A Guide for the Development of a Legal Framework to Authorize the Establishment and Operationalization of a PHEOC
This document provides the required guidance to Member States for establishing and/or strengthening legal authorities for a PHEOC and describes the process of developing or amending country-specific legal frameworks. It will serve as a reference to the Member States of the African Region to adapt their PHEOC legal instruments as necessary, in line with the laws and practices of each sovereign state. The PHEOC legal framework guide also includes information on the stakeholder engagement process and key considerations for potential inclusion in the national sphere of each Member State
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All
Gender in Infectious Disease Epidemic Preparedness and Response (GENPAR) Toolkit (English)
GENPAR, or the Gender in Infectious Disease Epidemic Preparedness And Response Toolkit, is a set of benchmarks
and tools to integrate gender into select core capacities of the International Health Regulations (IHR)
2005, namely:
1 Surveillance
2 National laboratory system
3 Human resources
4 Emergency preparedness and emergency response operations
5 Risk communication
6 Community engagement
And capacities such as:
7 RMNCAH as essential services in outbreaks
8 Gender-based violence in epidemics, and
9 Animal health
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All
Law and Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: Lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic
The Report analyses current domestic laws and policies and provides recommendations in three main areas: (1) overarching domestic legal and institutional frameworks for PHEs (i.e., the architecture of PHE risk management); (2) legal measures for mitigating both the secondary impacts of PHEs and impacts on vulnerable groups; and (3) legal facilities for humanitarian actors during PHEs. The recommendations seek to identify the key legal issues that decision-makers need to consider and to provide general guidance on how PHE laws and policies can – similar to more general disaster laws – underpin the key components of effective and equitable preparedness and response.
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All
Online Resources
An educational and advocacy project initiated by people interested in gender relations in disaster contexts.
Taking Sex and Gender into account in Infectious Disease Programmes
This is a course that aims to strengthen the capabilities of public health policy and programme managers in incorporating a gender perspective into disease management. Participants learn to apply an analytical framework for understanding how sex and gender affect and interact with emerging infectious diseases.
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All
Legislative assessments as a tool for strengthening health security capacity: the example of Guinea post-2014 Ebola outbreak
Following the 2014-2016 Ebola crisis in West Africa, the President of Guinea established a new agency solely dedicated to preparedness and response to public health emergencies. This paper presents the results of a research project to assess the legal and regulatory basis for activities related to public health emergencies management across the Guinean
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All
The Gender Handbook for Humanitarian Action
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) published the original Women,
Girls, Boys and Men. Different Needs — Equal Opportunities: Gender Handbook in Humanitarian Action in 2006. The purpose of the handbook was to provide humanitarian actors with guidance on gender analysis, planning and actions to ensure that the needs, priorities and capacities of women, girls, men and boys are considered in all aspects of humanitarian response. The first edition predated the more recent humanitarian reform and Transformative Agenda processes and as such, did not reflect the current iteration of the sector system, the IASC Gender Marker, the Humanitarian Programme Cycle and other advances in humanitarian coordination, leadership, accountability and partnership. After wide consultations
with IASC members, sector leaders, field users and donors, the Gender Handbook has been updated. The revised version is a concise guide built upon lessons learned by the humanitarian community and reflects the main challenges faced in ensuring that gender is adequately integrated into humanitarian planning and programming. The handbook is complemented by detailed information found in the regularly updated online platform. The review of the handbook was undertaken by the IASC Gender Reference Group in 2016. It was endorsed by the IASC to meet collective commitments on gender equality in humanitarian action
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All
IHR (2005): A Brief Introduction to Implementation in National Legislation
This document provides a brief introduction to legislative
implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)
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All
IHR (2005) Toolkit for implementation in national legislation - Questions and answers, legislative reference and assessment tool and examples of national legislation
This document is a detailed legislative reference and includes a legislative assessment tool and examples of national legislation.
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All
IHR Implementation in Nigerian Law
Mapping of Legal Authorities and Analysis of Legislation at Federal Level. This included an analysis of existing laws for disease surveillance, detection and response; port health; quarantine services; food safety and others. This document describes findings from this assessment including strengths in existing laws, gaps where they exist and recommendations to strengthen the legal framework for IHR implementation in Nigeria. It provides detailed findings, which can also serve as guidance document for countries that want to create more robust and effective national public health capacities.
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All
The International Health Regulations (2005) - Toolkit for implementation in national legislation: The National IHR Focal Point
was developed by the Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to requests for guidance on legislative implementation of the requirements concerning the designation or establishment and functioning of the National IHR Focal Point (NFP) under the International Health Regulations (2005) ("IHR (2005)" or "Regulations"). This toolkit complements other related legal guidance on the role and assessment of national legislation for IHR (2005) implementation, including the legislative reference and assessment tool and compilation of examples of legislation
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All
Mainstreaming gender within the WHO Health Emergencies Programme: 2022–2026 strategy
This Strategy aims to provide guidance on how to systemically analyze and address relevant gender issues across WHE policies and programmes, to enable WHE work to contribute to gender equity and equality, which in turn will strengthen health emergency programming at all levels. It also provides strategic direction to facilitate how WHE can respond to the specific gender-based needs and risks that women, men, girls and boys and people with diverse gender identities experience as a consequence of health emergencies, in ways that improve the design and delivery of WHE policies and programmes, and contribute to reducing gender-inequalities including morbidity and mortality but also the medium and long term socio-economic effects of emergencies.
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All
Gender mainstreaming for health managers: a practical approach
Contemporary public health mandates include addressing a wide range of determinants of health such as sex, gender, poverty and equity. This Manual focuses on gender as a determinant of health for women and men and the particular ways that gender equality contributes to better health outcomes for women and girls. In particular, this Manual addresses how gender norms, roles and relations affect health-related behaviours and outcomes as well as health sector responses. At the same time, it recognizes that gender inequality is a cross-cutting determinant of health that operates in conjunction with other forms of discrimination based on such factors as age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity or place of origin and sexual orientation. The Manual provides a basis for addressing other forms of health- related discrimination.
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All
Guide for analysis and monitoring of gender equity in health policies
This instrument seeks to broaden the definition of equity that has guided
the evaluation of health system reform policies introduced in the
Region since the 1990s, which has tended to focus on economic criteria
and overlook other major dimensions of inequality such as gender. It is
intended to help elucidate the implications of such policies for gender
equity, recognizing, of course, that they will vary depending on a country’s
specific circumstances. The guide provides a basis for discussion and advocacy in a process aimed at building consensus around the identification
of problems, the establishment of priorities for action, the formulation
or reformulation of policy objectives, and the definition of indicators
and strategies for monitoring application of the resulting policies.
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All
IHR (2005) Toolkit for implementation in national legislation - The National IHR Focal Point
This document provides information on the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) in national legislation with a particular focus on the National IHR Focal Point and its functions.
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All
Emergencies: Ten things you need to do to implement the International Health Regulations
This webpage provides general information on the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005).
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All
How to budget for COVID-19 response? A rapid scan of budgetary mechanisms in highly affected countries.
Summarises observed budgetary allocation actions across a sample of countries in response to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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All
COVID-19 Funds in Response to the Pandemic
Outlines summary information and key issues linked to the creation of dedicated COVID-19 extrabudgetary funds (EBFs), including examining the motivation for setting up such funds, describing a database of more than 40 funds that has been compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO), and provides guidance on how to improve the design and management of COVID-19 funds to make them efficient, transparent, and accountable.
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All
Public financial management for effective response to health emergencies
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shown that public financial management (PFM) should be an integral part of the response. Effectiveness in financing the health response depends not only on the level of funding but also on the way public funds are allocated and spent, this is determined by the PFM rules, and how money flows to health service providers. So far, early assessments have shown that PFM systems ranged from being a fundamental enabler to acting as a roadblock in the COVID-19 health response. While service delivery mechanisms have been extensively documented throughout the pandemic, the underlying PFM mechanisms of the response also merit attention. To highlight the importance of PFM in health emergency contexts, this rapid review analyses various country PFM experiences and identifies early lessons emerging from the financing of the health response to COVID-19. The assessment is done by stages of the budget cycle: budget allocation, budget execution, and budget oversight. Identifying lessons from the varying PFM modalities used to finance the response to COVID-19 is fundamental both for health policy-makers and for finance authorities to prepare for future health emergencies.
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All
Health financing for the COVID-19 response: Process guide for national budgetary dialogue
This Process Guide lays out a sequenced set of analytics and actions to support reorienting budgetary arrangements to facilitate the ability of national governments to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by delivering therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccine services to their populations.
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All
One Health: Operational Framework for Strengthening Human, Animal, and Environmental Public Health Systems at their Interface
Outlines the value of investing in One Health and offers information on the impacts of disease outbreaks, the value of actions, suggest opportunities of action, and outlines basic guidance for analysis.
Relevant Section:
Chapter 2 (pp.29-46)
Disaster Financial Management Guide Guidance for State, Local, Tribal & Territorial Partners
Provides guidance for U.S. jurisdictions (e.g., state, local, tribal and territorial governments) establish and implement sound disaster financial management practices.
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All
Financing common goods for health
Common Goods for Health (CGH) are the core population-based functions or interventions that are essential to the health and well-being of entire societies. They necessitate public financing and public action as they are public goods or have large social externalities, and thus will not arise through market forces alone.
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All
From Panic and Neglect to Investing in Health Security: Financing Pandemic Preparedness at a National Level
This report by the International Working Group on Financing Preparedness (IWG) proposes ways in which national governments and development partners can finance investments in-country and regional preparedness and response capacities for pandemics and other health emergencies. The report outlines 12 specific recommendations to ensure adequate and sustained financing of preparedness.
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All
Health Financing Progress Matrix Assessment
The Health Financing Progress Matrix (HFPM) is WHO's standard approach to assessing country health financing systems. Reports provide an up-to-date assessment of strengths and weaknesses in a country's health financing system relative to a set of desirable attributes.
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All
Strengthening Preparedness for COVID-19 in Cities and Urban Settings
This document is to support local authorities, leaders and policy-makers in cities and other urban settlements in identifying effective approaches and implementing recommended actions that enhance the prevention, preparedness and readiness for COVID-19 in urban settings, to ensure a robust response and eventual recovery. It covers factors unique to cities and urban settings, considerations in urbam preparedness, key areas of focus and preparing for future emergencies.
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Pages 5-7
Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes in Health-care Facilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A WHO Practical Toolkit
The specific aim of the toolkit is to enable antimicrobial stewardship in health-care facilities in low- and middle-income countries.
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All
National antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems and participation in the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS). A guide to planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
Guide to planning, implementing, M&E for AMR surveillance.
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Full document
WHO recommendations to reduce risk of transmission of emerging pathogens from animals to humans in live animal markets or animal product markets
This document provides recommendations to reduce risk of transmission of emerging pathogens from animals to humans in live animal markets or animal product markets
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All
FAO’s Good Emergency Practice (GEMP)
The aim of this manual is to set out in a systematic way the elements required to achieve control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs).
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All
FAO Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET)
SET is a tool developed by FAO that supports the comprehensive and comparative assessment of a country's surveillance system for animal diseases, including zoonoses. The objectives of SET evaluations are to (i) Evaluate a country's animal disease surveillance system to support the development of a locally-relevant action plan for improvement; and (ii) Use a standardized and reproducible tool to monitor progress of the system over time.
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All
Tripartite Joint Risk Assessment (JRA) tool
This tool supports national human and animal health sectors to jointly assess health risks from zoonotic disease. It supports decision-makers to build and implement science-based risk management measures and communication messages aligned between sectors or implemented jointly.
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All
OIE Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Evaluation tool
The PVS Evaluation comprises a 2-6 week mission which delivers a thorough, qualitative assessment of the performance of a country’s Veterinary Services and their compliance with OIE international Standards. It is an external evaluation conducted by a group of OIE trained and certified experts which collect and analyse baseline information and evidence collated during the mission, including an extensive field component. The mission uses the proven OIE PVS Tool, where 45 Critical Competencies are systematically evaluated via documentation reviews, interviews and physical observations against five qualitative graded levels of advancement, each with detailed descriptions or indicators to transparently guide the process.
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All
OIE’s Communication handbook for Veterinary Services
This handbook supports veterinary services personnel to collaborate with key stakeholders and concerned publics especially in terms of engaging health professionals, farmers, civil society, communities, media and others who are largely unfamiliar with the scientific knowledge of the world of animal health.
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All
Human and Animal Vaccination Delivery to Remote Nomadic Families, Chad
A review of field research on joint human and animal vaccination campaigns among nomadic pastoralists of Chad, advocating for intersectoral approaches for service delivery in similar remote rural, hard-to-reach settings.
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All
WHO RAST
The WHO Biosafety Risk Assessment Tool is a practical application of the Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th Edition (LBM4). The risk prediction tool allows for rapid analysis of hazards and risks associated with laboratory activities and other research work. The Biosafety RAST is a guide for laboratory staff that provides the user with logical assistance for conducting risk assessments
Guidance on regulations for the transport of infectious substances
This publication offers practical guidance to facilitate compliance with applicable international regulations for the transport of infectious substances by all modes of transport and includes the changes that apply from 1 October 2023. Existing national and international regulatory frameworks for the transport of infectious substances are included to provide information for classifying, identifying, packaging, marking, labelling, documenting and refrigerating infectious substances for transportation and ensuring their safe delivery
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All
An Efficient and Practical Approach to Biosecurity
Whole-of-government biosafety and biosecurity system is in place for all sectors (including human, animal (domestic animals and wildlife) and environmental facilities).
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17-86
Development of a Biosecurity Checklist for Laboratory Assessment and Monitoring
This peer-reviewed article contains a checklist for laboratories to use to assess the status of biosecurity. This biosecurity checklist is an information-gathering tool for external assessments and is aimed to assist organizations that handle valuable biological materials (VBMs), to assess the aspects of biosecurity and laboratory capacity.
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85-86
Questionnaire: Biosecurity Gap Analysis--Facility Level
Example of a questionnaire for use in conducting a facility level biosecurity gaps assessment.
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1-3
Establishment of a National Inventory of Dangerous Pathogens in the Republic of Uganda
This article includes a description of how the Government of Uganda instituted a dangerous pathogen inventory. The methods section of the article summarizes the primary steps in the process.
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170-172
Laboratory biosafety manual, 4th edition
The first edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) Laboratory biosafety manual was published in 1983. It encouraged countries to accept and implement basic concepts in biological safety and to develop national codes of practice for the safe handling of pathogenic biological agents in laboratories within their geographical borders. Since then, many countries have used the expert guidance provided in the manual to develop such codes of practice. The second and third editions of the Laboratory biosafety manual were published in 1993 and 2004 respectively. With each new version, WHO continues to provide international leadership on biosafety by addressing emerging issues, technologies and challenges, and providing guidance on
best practice.
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All
Laboratory biosecurity guidance
The World Health Organization (WHO) is committed to preventing epidemics and pandemics by ensuring the safe and secure handling of biological material in laboratories. To address this, the WHO published the fourth edition of the Laboratory Biosafety Manual in 2020, which takes a risk- and evidence-based approach to biosafety of laboratory work with biological agents. Complementary, the Laboratory biosecurity guidance has been revised to enhance the protection of laboratory operations against biosecurity threats. Both documents aim to enhance the biological risk management and prevent biosafety and biosecurity incidents
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All
Laboratory biosafety manual (3rd edition)
The third edition of the WHO Laboratory biosafety manual is a helpful reference and guide to nations that accept the challenge to develop and establish national codes of practice for securing microbiological assets, yet ensuring their availability for clinical, research and epidemiological purposes.
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All
Triangulation for improved decision-making in immunization programmes (draft)
Offers a systematic approach to using triangulation for programme improvement in immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance
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All
Strategy on Epidemic Intelligence for Strengthening Early Warning of Health Emergencies 2024–2029
Outlines a five (5) year strategic approach to enhance early warning systems for health emergencies in the WHO Region of the Americas
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All
Triangulation for improved decision-making in immunization programmes (draft)
Offers a systematic approach to using triangulation for programme improvement in immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance
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All
Competencies for one health field epidemiology (COHFE) framework
Defines the knowledge, skills, and competencies (KSC) needed for field epidemiologists to implement the One Health approach
Triangulation for improved decision-making in immunization programmes (draft)
Offers a systematic approach to using triangulation for programme improvement in immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance
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All
Africa CDC Event-based Surveillance Framework
Provides guidance for implementing event-based surveillance (EBS) using a multisectoral, One Health approach to enhance early warning and response systems
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All
Triangulation for improved decision-making in immunization programmes (draft)
Offers a systematic approach to using triangulation for programme improvement in immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance
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All
Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources
Web resource outlines the growing global community of practice, a range of multi-disciplinary collaborators and an evolving fit-for-purpose system upon which the EIOS initiative is built
Community-Based Surveillance: guiding principles
This document outlines the principles used by the IFRC to implement community based surveillance and empower communities to play an essential role in their own health security.
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All
Joint risk assessment operational tool (JRA OT): an operational tool of the tripartite zoonoses guide
Taking a multisectoral, one health approach: a tripartite guide to addressing zoonotic diseases in countries
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All
Global Strategy on Comprehensive Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance
Promotes the development of high-functioning, comprehensive, and integrated surveillance systems for all vaccine-preventable diseases
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All
Technical Guidelines for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in the African Region: Third edition - Booklet 5
These guidelines aim to strengthen public health surveillance and response systems across African countries
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All
A Guide to Establishing Event-based Surveillance
In line with the recommendations of the Asia Pacific technical Advisory Group (tAG) on Emerging Infectious Diseases and in response to requests from Member States, the WHO Western Pacific regional office has developed the following guide for the design of event-based surveillance systems.
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All
Technical Guidelines for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in the African Region: Third edition - Booklet 3
These guidelines aim to strengthen public health surveillance and response systems across African countries
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All
“Crafting the Mosaic”: A Framework for Resilient Surveillance for Respiratory Viruses of Epidemic and Pandemic Potential
Assists national authorities in developing resilient surveillance systems for respiratory viruses by assisting the objective-based identification of a mosaic of multiple surveillance approaches
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All
Trend analysis guidance for surveillance data
Operational guidance supporting experts to carry out a trend analyses using regression models.
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All
Defining Collaborative Surveillance: A core concept of the framework for strengthening the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response, and resilience (HEPR)
Defines the collaborative surveillance concept—proposing a conceptual model, dimensions across which collaboration should occur to enable multi-source and multisectoral surveillance, key objectives and concrete capabilities for how countries, with the support of WHO and partners, can further advance surveillance capabilities, and address fragmented and insufficient capacity.
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All
Triangulation for improved decision-making in immunization programmes (draft)
Offers a systematic approach to using triangulation for programme improvement in immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance
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All
Surveillance Atlas of Infectous Diseases
Interactive data visuaualization tool on various notifiable, infectious diseases across EU Member State collected through The European Surveillance System (TESSy)
Epidemic Analysis for Response Decision-Making: Systematic Organization of Multi-Source Information to Inform Response Decisions
Provides a systematic process for organizing multi-source information to inform response decisions during epidemics
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All
Operational tool on rapid risk assessment methodology
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All
Global genomic surveillance strategy for pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential, 2022–2032
High-level unifying framework to leverage existing capacities, address barriers and strengthen the use of genomic surveillance in the detection, monitoring and response to public health threats
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All
Early warning alert and response (EWAR) in emergencies: an operational guide
This document aims to provide health authorities with guidance for implementing or enhancing the all hazards early warning and response within national surveillance systems.
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All
Surveillance and information sharing operational tool: an operational tool of the tripartite zoonoses guide
This document supports national authorities in establishing or strengthening coordinated, multisectoral surveillance and information sharing systems for zoonotic diseases
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All
Communicable disease surveillance and response systems. Guide to monitoring and evaluating.
Offers a framework for monitoring and evaluating communicable disease surveillance and response systems to ensure their effectiveness
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All
Technical Guidelines for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in the African Region: Third edition - Booklet 1
These guidelines aim to strengthen public health surveillance and response systems across African countries
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All
Strengthening public health surveillance and risk assessment for health security threats in the WHO South-East Asia Region
Identifies priority actions to enhance surveillance, risk assessment, and field epidemiology for health security in the WHO South-East Asia Region
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All
Triangulation for improved decision-making in immunization programmes (draft)
Offers a systematic approach to using triangulation for programme improvement in immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance
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All
Triangulation for improved decision-making in immunization programmes (draft)
Offers a systematic approach to using triangulation for programme improvement in immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance
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All
Outbreak surveillance and response in humanitarian emergencies: WHO guidelines for EWARN Implementation
This document provides a standard framework and best practices for implementing an early warning and response network and its operation in the field in a crisis situation, e.g., following humanitarian emergencies.
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All
Vaccine preventable disease surveillance standards
A collection of WHO-recommended standards for conducting surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases to inform vaccine policy and strategy
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All
Technical Guidelines for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in the African Region: Third edition - Booklet 2
These guidelines aim to strengthen public health surveillance and response systems across African countries
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All
Triangulation for improved decision-making in immunization programmes (draft)
Offers a systematic approach to using triangulation for programme improvement in immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance
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All
Triangulation for improved decision-making in immunization programmes (draft)
Offers a systematic approach to using triangulation for programme improvement in immunization and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance
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All
Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework
Regional strategy strengthen health security in the Asia Pacific, including assessing and responding to threats through multisource surveillance and risk assessment
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All
WHO Recommended Surveillance Standards, 2nd ed
Compiles WHO-recommended standards for the surveillance of communicable diseases to harmonize surveillance activities globally
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All
Technical Guidelines for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in the African Region: Third edition - Booklet 4
These guidelines aim to strengthen public health surveillance and response systems across African countries
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All
Taking a multisectoral, one health approach: a tripartite guide to addressing zoonotic diseases in countries
This document supports countries in implementing a multisectoral, One Health approach to effectively manage zoonotic diseases at the human-animal-environment interface
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All
Communicable disease surveillance and response systems. A guide to planning
Assists Member States in developing comprehensive plans for implementing and strengthening surveillance and response systems
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All
Community-based surveillance guidance
Resources for establishing, maintaining and evaluating CBS
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All documents
A regional strategy for integrated disease surveillance: overcoming data fragmentation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Aims to integrate national surveillance systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to overcome data fragmentation and improve early detection and response to health threats
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All
Operational guidance on rapid risk assessment methodology
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All
International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN)
Web resouse outlines the global network of pathogen genomic actors to accelerate progress in pathogen genomics, and improve public health decision-making
Data quality monitoring and surveillance system evaluation
Handbook on methods for surveillance systems M&E
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All
International Health Regulations (2005) Third edition
International legal framework for the prevention and response to the international spread of diseases
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All
Strategic toolkit for assessing risks: a comprehensive toolkit for all-hazards health emergency risk assessment
Framework for national and subnational governments to conduct strategic, evidence-based assessments of public health risks to enhance emergency preparedness and disaster risk management
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All
Building Global Epidemiology and Response Capacity with Field Epidemiology Training Programs
This article provides the history of and describes the traditional 2-year Field Epidemiology Training Program that has been supported by CDC in many countries; it also describes the effect of these
programs, their role in the development of a public health workforce, and how they are enhancing global health security.
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Field Epidemiology Training Program Development Handbook
Complete guideline for developing field epidemiology training programs.
Relevant Section:
Ch 2,Ch 4.1,Ch 3,Ch 6,Ch 5,Ch 8
What should the African health workforce know about disasters? Proposed competencies for strengthening public health disaster risk management education in Africa
This article presents competencies and training curricula that were identified through a collaboration between the World Health Organization and WHO-AFRO, describes the stages of their development, and proposes recommendations for their completion and integration into the curricula of African public health training institutions.
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Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Programs as a Strategy to Improve Disease Surveillance and Response
This article describes the process and early results on the implementation of FETP-Frontline -- a 3-month field training program targeting local Ministry of Health staff in over 20 countries to augment local public health capacity.
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Health professionals for a new century: transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world
This article reports on the major findings of a Lancet Commission that sought to to develop a shared vision and a common strategy for holistic postsecondary education in medicine, nursing, and public health.
Relevant Section:
1951
Essential public health functions: a guide to map and measure national workforce capacity
Monitoring the composition of the workforce that delivers the essential public health functions (EPHFs), including a specific function and focus on emergency preparedness and response (EPR), is a key element of public health workforce planning to ensure the development of a capable and competent workforce at national level. It can enable countries to meet the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as improve preparedness to avert future public health emergencies that could have significant impact on economies and social development (e.g. zoonotic spillover, noncommunicable diseases [NCDs], antimicrobial resistance [AMR], climate-related hazards).
This document belongs to the National Workforce Capacity for Essential Public Health Functions Collection, which includes an operational handbook and guidance on functions, competency-based education and workforce enumeration
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Training and service in public health, Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training, 2008 - 2014
This article presents an overview of the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program of Nigeria – describing its history, objectives, and successes from its establishment in 2008 through 2014.
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All
Sixty-Eighth World Health Assembly: Provisional agenda item 16.1 – Global health emergency workforce
This document by the WHO-Director General contains a conceptual plan for a workforce established to respond to acute or protracted risks and emergencies with health consequences.
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Global competency and outcomes framework for the essential public health functions
Achieving and sustaining national progress towards universal health coverage, health security and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without a health workforce that can deliver the full range of both the essential health services and the essential public health functions,
including national and international emergency preparedness and response.
Whether dealing with the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, preparing for and preventing the next pandemic, or addressing diverse challenges such as climate change and natural and man-made disasters, the escalating burden of noncommunicable diseases and/or antimicrobial resistance, there are
economic, health, ethical and moral imperatives to strengthen the public health workforce.
In May 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partner organizations agreed on a roadmap for national workforce capacity to implement essential public health functions. This roadmap emphasizes
three interconnected steps: identifying the services, programmes, policies and actions for essential public health functions tailored to the regional, national or subnational context; mapping and measuring the
diversity of occupations involved in delivering these functions, along with projected needs; and developing the competencies and skills of the workforce.
This framework addresses the last of the three steps. It provides evidence-based guidance and an international reference set of competencies and educational outcomes, aligning education with employment and public health needs to build and maintain the workforce required to deliver the essential
public health functions.
This document belongs to the National Workforce Capacity for Essential Public Health Functions Collection, which includes an operational handbook and guidance on functions, competency-based education and workforce enumeration
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Training the Global Public Health Workforce Through Applied Epidemiology Training Programs: CDC’s Experience, 1951–2011
This article describes the long history and experiences of the U.S. CDC in developing training programs for field epidemiologists and also describes more recent efforts to strengthen the competencies of different cadres of public health staff.
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Scaling Up, Saving Lives
This report calls for a rapid and significant scaling up of the education and training of health workers as part of a broader effort to strengthen health systems and highlights the importance of training to meet a country’s own health needs.
Relevant Section:
Ch 3/4, Ch 8, Ch 7, Ch 5
Replicating success: developing a standard FETP curriculum
This article describes the process that was used to develop a standard curriculum based on 15 public health competencies.
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Central America Field Epidemiology Training Program (CA FETP): a pathway to sustainable public health capacity development
This review article describes the training model, outcomes, and impact of the Central America Field Epidemiology Training Program.
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Defining essential public health functions and services to strengthen national workforce capacity
The purpose of this document is to support countries in contextualizing and implementing action area 1 of the roadmap and action plan to strengthen the public health workforce, which includes the emergency workforce. Action area 1 focuses on operationalizing the essential public health functions (EPHFs).
Countries can use this document to identify their priorities relating to the EPHFs, subfunctions and public health services in the post-COVID-19 era and to understand and strengthen public health capacities and stewardship. A strategic review of the EPHFs can inform broader public health strengthening or reform.
This document also includes an annex summarizing the findings of a survey on mapping EPHF-related health workforce strengthening activities within the World Health Organization (WHO) and by key partners, which informed the work
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Leveraging information technology to bridge the health workforce gap
This article discusses how new information and communication technologies can help to overcome healthcare workforce development challenges.
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Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs in sub-Saharan Africa from 2004 to 2010: need, the process, and prospects
This article describes a process used to develop 10 Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs covering 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa as a strategy to develop a locally trained public health workforce that can operate multi-disease surveillance and response systems.
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COVID-19: Operational guidance for maintaining essential health services during an outbreak.
This document expands on the content of the WHO Operational planning guidelines to support country preparedness and response for COVID-19. It provides guidance on a set of targeted immediate actions that countries should consider at national, regional, and local level to reorganize and maintain access to essential quality health services for all. It complements existing and forthcoming WHO guidance on the wider implications of COVID-19 for health systems and cross-government strategies for responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, including region-specific technical guidance being developed by WHO Regional Offices.
Relevant Section:
7,8,9
Public health worker competencies for emergency response
This article provides results from a project that aimed to develop emergency preparedness and response competencies for public health workers and reports on methods that may be used to develop competencies in other areas of public health practice.
Relevant Section:
80-81
Emergency Medical Teams 2030 Strategy
This document, EMT 2030, sets out the longer-term (2023-2030) strategic directions and priorities of the EMT Initiative. It provides the overarching framework upon which programmes of work and activities at the global, regional and national levels may be built and aligned. It will serve to develop comprehensive action plans for each of the WHO regions, and to help programme planners and decision-makers at all levels to design and implement contributory activities. It may also be used to guide policy dialogue and investment decisions, helping to frame the significance of an activity at national or regional level in terms of broader global objectives.
Finally, this document provides a basis for monitoring and evaluating the progress of the EMT Initiative
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World Health Organization strategy (2022-2026) for the National Action Plan for Health Security
This strategy defines the World Health Organization (WHO) vision and framework for supporting Member States to accelerate the development, implementation and monitoring of their National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) from 2022 to 2026. The National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) are critical to ensure national capacities in health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery are planned, built, strengthened and sustained in order to achieve national, regional and global health security and therefore keep the world safe, serve the vulnerable and promote health.
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Self assessment checklist for EMT type 1, 2 and 3
Series of checklists to support development of EMT according to the principles and standards outlined in the Classification and Minimum Standards for Emergency Medical Teams. There are four checklist, one per each type of EMT capacity: type 1 mobile, type 1 fixed, type 2 or type 3
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Checklist for deploying/receiving EMT staff in COVID-19
This planning tool focus on elements that need to be considered when deploying EMT staff to a facility. Quality of care and staff safety are the focus.
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Minimum technical standards and recommendations for reproductive, maternal and child health care
This document outlines the minimum standards and recommendations for the establishment of surge teams to providing reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health. It also provides the basis for the external evaluation of such teams
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WHO R&D Blueprint for Action to Prevent Epidemics
The WHO R&D Blueprint for Action to Prevent Epidemics focuses on diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines and aims to (i) improve coordination and foster an enabling environment to conduct research during epidemics, accelerate research and development processes, (ii) implement critical research (including regulatory and ethical pathways) and (iii) develop new norms and standards tailored to the epidemic context (including supporting capacity development for human resource for research).
EMT Coordination Forms
Series of forms to support coordination of EMT operations, including EMT Exit Report Form, EMTCoordination Cell Situation Report and Patient Referral Form
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A guidance document for medical teams responding to health emergencies in armed conflictd and other insecure environments
This document offer a guidance framework and introduces additional requirements for medical teams preparing for or involved in responding to health emergencies in armend conflict and other insecure environments
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Minimum technical standard and recommendations for rehabilitation in emergency medical teams
This document offer guidance on strengthening capacity of surge teams to work in rehabilitation, thus preventing patient complications and impairment and ensuring continuty of care. It also provides the basis for the external evaluation of such teams
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WHO delivering results and making an impact: stories from the ground
WHO delivering results and making an impact: stories from
the ground”, presents a snapshot of how WHO has delivered on its mission in
countries and contributed to health outcomes across a wide range of issues
during 2020-2021.It in includes a multi-country case study on resource mapping (REMAP) in Liberia and South Sudan.
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Emergency Response Framework (ERF), Edition 2.1
The ERF provides WHO staff with essential guidance on how the Organization manages the assessment, grading and response to public health events and emergencies with health consequences, in support of Member States and affected communities. The ERF adopts an all-hazards approach and it is therefore applicable in all acute public health events and emergencies.
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Joint external evaluation tool: International Health Regulations (2005) - third edition
In 2020, the IHR Review Committee and the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme expressed the need to adjust the IHR monitoring, and evaluation instruments based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2021 the JEE Secretariat began the process of systematic review of the tool. These efforts included a consultative meeting of March 2021 to identify improvements of the JEE tool based on lessons from COVID-19 pandemic, followed by constitution of a technical working group composed of global experts from WHO, partner institutions and Member States to review and revise the JEE tool based on the recommendations of the technical consultative meeting. These changes and improvements made by the technical working group are reflected in the third edition of the JEE tool.
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WHO Guidance on Research Methods for Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management
The WHO Centre for Health Development (WHO Kobe Centre) is working with key partners towards building a Health EDRM Knowledge Hub with five different research areas: health research data management, mental health services support, vulnerable population management, health workforce development and research methods on disaster risk management. The Health EDRM provides a common language, a comprehensive all-hazard approach and focuses on improving health outcomes and well-being for communities at risk in different contexts, including in fragile, low- and high-resource settings.
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Minimum standards and recommendations for medical teams responding to highly infectious disease outbreaks
This document outlines the minimum standards and recommendations for the establishment of surge teams to respond to highly infectious diseases in the context of any type of health emergency. It also provides the basis for the external evaluation of such teams
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Classification and Minimum Standards for Emergency Medical Teams
This document outlines the guiding principles, core and technical standards for the establishment of emergency medical teams. It also provides the basis for the external evaluation of such teams
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Research prioritization for pandemic and epidemic intelligence: technical brief
Robust evidence from high-quality research is vital for pandemic and epidemic intelligence, forming the basis for effective collaborative surveillance and informed public health decisions. The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred innovation in data and laboratory science and improved our ability to detect, assess and respond to health threats. However, research on surveillance methods and tools requires greater coherence and more efficient ways to translate research for evidence-based policy-making.
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WHO Public Health Research Agenda for Managing Infodemics
The research agenda comprises five focus areas, or streams, for accelerated action on infodemics, which are defined as an overabundance of information – some accurate and some not – that occurs during an epidemic. These streams include the evaluation of infodemic impacts, how to study them, what drives them, approaches to better manage them and considerations for operationalizing new tools for both the science and practice of infodemic management.
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A global research agenda on public health and social measures during emergencies
This work includes a multistep process that started with a global technical consultation convened by WHO in September 2021. The consultation included experts from around the world and from a wide range of disciplines, such as public health, education, tourism, finance and social sciences, and aimed to identify research and implementation approaches based on lessons learnt during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. To prepare for future epidemics and pandemics, it is essential to adopt a more robust, comparable and systematic research approach to public health and social measures. Such comprehensive approach will better inform agile, balanced and context-specific implementation decisions during future emergencies.
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National civil–military health collaboration framework for strengthening health emergency preparedness
The framework identifies lessons learned from recent participation of military health services in responding to natural disasters, chemical, nuclear or radiological incidents, and disease outbreaks, including linkages to public health emergency operation centres and emergency medical teams. Key elements for effective civil–military health collaboration for the development of national core capacity to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from health emergencies are highlighted
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Health service continuity planning for public health emergencies: a handbook for health facilities
"This handbook is developed with the aim of supporting health care facilities to minimize disruption and ultimately increase the resilience of health services during public health emergencies. It provides step by step guidance for developing service continuity plans in public health emergency context by outlining the procedures and key elements to be considered for planning including a planning template. The utility of this handbook is not specific to a particular emergency response and underpins a preparedness and proactive approach towards various public health emergency risks for which the health services should be prepared before they occur or disrupt health services.
The intended audiences are health facilities, health service managers, health workers and health authorities with responsibility for planning and coordinating emergency management and service continuity operations among health facilities. They can use this handbook to:
• enhance awareness of the necessity of service continuity planning and associated
requirements;
• review and update their existing service continuity plans and other arrangements
for health services continuity;
• develop service continuity plans if there are none for their health facilities."
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Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Treatment Centre (practical manual to set up and manage a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) treatment centre and a SARI screening facility in health-care facilities)
This is the first edition of the practical manual to set up and manage a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) treatment centre and a SARI screening facility in health-care facilities. The document has been developed to meet the operational needs emerging with the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Health systems resilience toolkit: a WHO global public health good to support building and strengthening of sustainable health systems resilience in countries with various contexts
"This toolkit is a consolidated, technical reference package to support countries in strengthening health systems resilience at national and subnational level from policy and planning, through operational and services delivery, to monitoring and evaluation. The Toolkit may be adapted to varying contexts and will also contribute to the dual agenda of universal health coverage (UHC) and global health security.
The Toolkit serves as a compendium of technical resources to support countries in strengthening the resilience of their health systems and provides technical grounding and clarity on the conceptualization and operationalization of health systems resilience"
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Health Systems Resilience Simulation Exercises
"This handbook of off-the-shelf exercises (OTSE) focuses on health services resilience in an emergency environment. It provides a ready-prepared tabletop exercise for health systems personnel to conduct simulation exercises. This OTSE package complements the existing WHO simulation exercise manual (3), which describes other forms of exercise (including tabletop exercises) in detail. Simulation exercises can be used to test health system functionality and interconnectedness between different health systems building blocks, making them suitable for supporting health systems strengthening as well as for developing preparedness, response and recovery capabilities"
Relevant Section:
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Clinical care of severe acute respiratory infections – Toolkit
This toolkit is intended for clinicians working in acute care hospitals in low- and middle-income countries, managing adult and paediatric patients with acute respiratory infection, including severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis and septic shock. The main objective is to provide some of the necessary tools that can be used to care for the critically ill patient from hospital entry to hospital discharge.
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Home care for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and management of their contacts
This document is an update of the guidance published on 17 March 2020 entitled “Home care for patients with COVID-19 presenting with mild symptoms and management of their contacts”. This interim guidance has been updated with
advice on safe and appropriate home care for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and on the public health measures related to the management of their contacts. This rapid advice is intended to guide public health and infection prevention and control (IPC) professionals, health facility managers, health workers a and other trained community-based providers when addressing issues related
to home care for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, and thus refers to a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 throughout the document.
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Health workers exposure risk assessment and management in the context of COVID-19 virus
This tool is to be used by health care facilities that have either cared for or admitted COVID-19 patients. This form is to be completed for all health workers who have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 patient in a health care facility. It is intended to be an operational tool used by health care facilities once a COVID-19 patient has been identified within the facility. This tool will help determine
the risk of COVID-19 virus infection of all HCWs who have been exposed to a COVID-19 patient and then provides recommendations for appropriate management of these HCWs, according to their infection risk.
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Training course on an integrated approach to building health systems resilience
A combination of integrated approaches and actions are required to demonstrate health systems resilience attributes across policymaking, planning, service delivery, and monitoring and evaluation efforts. These include applying systems thinking and essential public health functions. This online training course consists of 4 modules covering the conceptual and practical aspects of building health systems resilience through an integrated approach. Each module has short learning sessions with exercises, case scenarios, discussion points, quizzes, etc. for an interactive learning experience which can be completed in approximately 5 hours total. The target audiences for this course are decision makers in public health and managers of health services at national, subnational and community levels. Objectives are that the participants will learn to incorporate the attributes of a resilient health system into relevant policies, plans, and actions; Apply an integrated approach to building health systems resilience as a requirement for UHC and health security; Advocate for and foster the implementation of the key requirements for building health systems resilience against various risks and shocks.
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Health system resilience indicators: an integrated package for measuring and monitoring health system resilience in countries
This work addresses an identified gap in measurement and monitoring of health system resilience. It complements the Health Systems Resilience Toolkit and supports implementation of the recommendations in WHO’s position paper on building health system resilience for UHC and health security. The package aims to support countries to progressively build their capacities to measure, monitor and build health system resilience from national to subnational levels covering health facilities and other service delivery platforms. It emphasizes an integrated approach to health system strengthening underpinned by essential public health functions, encompassing health emergency preparedness. It includes: guidance on how to utilize and adapt the health system resilience indicators, including a step-by-step guide a suite of recommended health system resilience indicators with technical specifications supplementary indicators of relevance to health system resilience.
The primary target audience for this package is national and subnational health authorities (including planners and managers) and service providers, as well as local, regional, and global technical organizations and partners working on health system strengthening, including WHO, United Nations country teams, donors, nongovernment organizations, development and humanitarian agencies, and other health-related technical agencies.
Relevant Section:
2024
Rational use of personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and considerations during severe shortages
This document summarizes WHO recommendations for the rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in health care settings and temporary strategies during acute supply shortages. This document also contains 2 Annex sections describing updated PPE use recommendations for health workers based on the transmission scenario, setting, and activity in the context of COVID-19 (Annex 1), and updated considerations for the decontamination or reprocessing of PPE (Annex 2). This guidance is intended for public health authorities, organizations, and focal persons involved in decisions regarding PPE distribution, management, and use by health workers.
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Infection prevention and control for long-term care facilities in the context of COVID-19
This interim guidance is for LTCF managers and corresponding infection prevention and control (IPC) focal persons in LTCF and updates the guidance published in March 2020. The objective of this document is to provide guidance on IPC in LTCFs in the context of COVID-19 to 1) prevent COVID-19-virus from entering the facility and spreading within the facility, and 2) to support safe conditions for visiting through the rigorous application of IPC procedures for the residents’ well-being. WHO will update these recommendations as new information becomes available. All technical guidance for COVID-19 is available online.
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Infection prevention and control for the safe management of a dead body in the context of COVID-19
This interim guidance is designed for individuals who tend to the bodies of persons who have died of suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Potential users include managers of health-care facilities and
mortuaries, as well as religious leaders and public health authorities. Moreover, this document provides guidance for the management of the dead in the context of COVID-19 in low, middle- and high-income settings.
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Best practices for communicating with the public during an outbreak
This report describes infectious disease outbreaks and the many difficult challenges they present for communicators and identifies best practices for communication during an outbreak.
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A guide to preventing and addressing social stigma associated with COVID-19
Social stigma in the context of health is the negative association between a person or group of people who share certain characteristics and a specific disease. In an outbreak, this may mean people are labelled, stereotyped, discriminated against, treated separately, and/or experience loss of status because of a perceived link with a disease. Such treatment can negatively affect those with the disease, as well as their caregivers, family, friends and communities. People who don’t have the disease but share other characteristics with this group may also suffer from stigma.
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What are the best ways to engage communities in emergency risk
communication activities to respond to events/ contexts?
This literature review summarizes the best practices for engaging communities, in preparing for and responding to emergencies with public health implications.
Relevant Section:
29-49
Health-Related Disaster Communication and Social Media: Mixed-Method Systematic Review
This review examines the body of literature on the best social media practices to promote health protection and dispel misinformation during disasters.
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COVID-19 message library
This message library, provided by WHO, is intended to be locally adapted and delivered to the general public in countries around the world via SMS or voice message. Member States are encouraged to localize and translate the messages below as necessary.
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Controlling the spread of COVID-19 at ground crossings
This guidance advises countries how to reduce the spread of COVID-19 resulting from travel, transportation, and trade on and around ground crossings
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Management of ill travellers at Points of Entry – international airports, seaports and ground crossings – in the context of COVID-19 outbreak
This document provides advice on the detection and management of ill travellers suspected to have COVID-19 at points of entry and on conveyances of all types, with the following measures to be implemented based on country priorities and capacities
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Promoting public health measures in response to COVID-19 on cargo ships and fishing vessels
This document provides guidance for shipowners, seafarers, unions and associations and competent authorities for health and transport on protecting seafarers working on cargo ships and fishing vessels from transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and management of COVID-19.
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Operational considerations for managing COVID-19 cases or outbreak in aviation
This document is based on the evidence currently available about coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission (human-to-human transmission primarily via respiratory droplets from, or direct contact with, an infected individual). It should be used in conjunction with WHO’s Handbook for the Management of Public Health Events in Air Transport. The target audience is any authority involved in public health response to a public health event in aviation, including International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Points (NFP), health authorities at airports, local, provincial and national health surveillance and response systems, as well as civil aviation authorities, airport operators, aircraft operators, airports and airlines.
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Operational considerations for managing COVID-19 cases/outbreak on board ships
This document has been prepared based on the evidence currently available about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission (human-to-human transmission via respiratory droplets or direct contact from an infected individual). It is recommended to use it in conjunction with the published World Health Organization (WHO) Handbook for management of public health events on board ships. The target audience of this documents is any authority involved in public health response to a COVID-19 public health event on board ships, including International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP), port health authorities, local, provincial and national health surveillance and response system, as well as port operators and ship operators.
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Develop and Conduct a Water Resilience Tabletop Exercise with Water Utilities
The Tabletop Exercise Tool for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities (TTX Tool) provides users with the resources to plan, conduct and evaluate tabletop exercises that focus on Water Sector-related incidents and challenges.
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TMT handbook : Triage, monitoring and treatment of people exposed to ionizing radiation following a malevolent act
A handbook for the triage, monitoring and treatment of people exposed to a malevolent use of radiation
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Communication with the Public in a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency
The aim of this publication is to provide practical guidance for public information officers on the preparation for and response to a nuclear or radiological emergency, and to fulfil in part functions assigned to the IAEA in the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency (Assistance Convention), as well as meeting
requirements stated in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SF-1, Fundamental Safety Principles, and in IAEA Safety Standards No. GS-R-2, Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency.
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Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network Directory
The directory of the members of WHO REMPAN - Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Response Network
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All
Iodine thyroid blocking: Guidelines for use in planning and responding to radiological and nuclear emergencies
WHO guideline on the use of KI tablets (iodine thyroid blocking) in case of nuclear power plant accidents.
Relevant Section:
All
Cytogenetic Dosimetry: Applications in Preparedness for and Response to Radiation Emergencies
The primary objective of this publication is to provide the user with technical information for selecting and implementing, in a standardized manner, the appropriate cytogenetic technique to ensure comparable dose assessment following accidental exposure to ionizing radiation. The publication describes the four possible cytogenetic methods (Fig. 1 and Table 1) currently available for biological dosimetry. It is appropriate to have all these techniques readily available in main geographical regions, but, given a degree of international
cooperation and networking, it is not necessary to have all of them available in each national biological dosimetry laboratory.
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Framework for MHPSS in nuclear emergencies
WHO normative document providing guidfance on management of mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS) in case of radiation emergencies
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All
EPR-Medical Response to radiological and nuclear emergencies
Joint publication of IAEA, WHO, PAHO and IFRC providing guidance on medical response to radiation emergencies. It supersedes the similar document published in 2005.
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All
Medical Management of Persons Internally Contaminated with Radionuclides in a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency
This manual covers the specific measures to be taken in the medical management of individuals who have been internally contaminated through inhalation, ingestion or absorption of radionuclides in a nuclear or radiological emergency. It includes a number of exposure scenarios, risk models and dosimetric data which can be used during the response to a nuclear or radiological emergency or for other purposes. However, it may be necessary to adapt some of the concepts discussed in this manual to reflect the prevailing national, regional or local medical conditions and capabilities
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Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency Combined with Other Incidents or Emergencies
This publication:
Addresses the preparedness and response for a nuclear or radiological emergency
initiated and/or affected by conventional emergencies, natural events, security
events and/or big national or global health crisis (hereafter referred to as a
‘combined emergency’;
Describes potential challenges in meeting each of the requirements established in GSR Part 7 in a combined emergency;
Covers the preparedness stage and the response phases, including the urgent response phase, early response phase and transition phase of the emergency.
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Policy advice on national stockpiles for radiation emergencies
WHO normative document providing advice on setting up and managing national stockpile of medical supplies required for response to radiation emergencies
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10 proposals to build a safer world together – Strengthening the Global Architecture for Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience: draft for consultation
"At the seventy-fifth World Health Assembly in May 2022, the Director General of WHO set out ten proposals to strengthen the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response, and resilience (HEPR), based on the principles of equity, inclusivity, and coherence, and under the aegis of a new a World Health Organization convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
The proposals build on the more than 300 recommendations from the various independent reviews of the global response to COVID-19, and reports into previous outbreak, and take into account the views of Member States expressed during a consultation process in March and April 2022, as well as ongoing multilateral consultation processes.
WHO is continuing to work and consult extensively with Member States and partners to refine the ten proposals, and in some cases initiate their implementation. An updated draft of the ten proposals will be published for further consultation prior to WHO’s next meeting of the Executive Board, which is scheduled to take place in January 2023."
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WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: module 2: screening: systematic screening for tuberculosis disease
"Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, despite being largely curable and preventable. In 2019 an estimated 2.9 million of the 10 million people who fell ill with TB were not diagnosed or reported to the World Health Organization. The Political Declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2018 commits, amongst others, to diagnosing and treating 40 million people with TB by 2022. In order to achieve this ambitious target, there is an urgent need to deploy strategies to improve diagnosis and initiation of care for people with TB. One of them is systematic screening for TB disease, which is included in the End TB Strategy as a central component of its first pillar to ensure early diagnosis for all with TB.
To help facilitate the implementation of TB screening at the country level, WHO published guidelines on screening for TB in 2013. Since then, there have been important new studies evaluating the impact of screening interventions on both individual-level and community-level outcomes related to TB, as well as new research evaluating innovative tools for screening for TB among important populations at high risk for TB disease.
In view of these new developments and upon demand by countries for more guidance, WHO convened a Guideline Development Group (GDG) in 2020 to examine the evidence and prepare WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis. Module 2: Screening - Systematic screening for tuberculosis disease. As a result of this process a set of 17 new and updated recommendations for the screening of TB disease have been developed. These recommendations identify contacts of TB patients, people living with HIV, people exposed to silica, prisoners and other key populations to be prioritized for TB screening. The new guidance also recommends different tools for screening, namely symptom screening, chest radiography, computer-aided detection software, molecular WHO-approved rapid diagnostic tests, and C-reactive protein. The new recommendations are being released as part of a modular series of WHO guidance on TB and are accompanied by a complementary implementation guide."
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Pandemic influenza preparedness framework: biennial progress report
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Using the WHO online COVID-19 public health and social measures calibration tool: a step-by-step guide
The WHO Regional Office for Europe developed an online public health and social measures (PHSM) calibration tool to assist Member States in decision-making relating to PHSM implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tool, designed to be used primarily by policy-makers in national and local government authorities, provides guidance based on a situational-level assessment framework that is determined by the level of community transmission and the overall capacity of health systems and public health services within a country or region to respond. By using a combination of country-reported and user-input data, the tool automatically generates a situational assessment and corresponding PHSM guidance for users, summarized in a downloadable report. This document provides a step-by-step guide on how to use the tool and gain maximum benefits from the information it provides.
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Infection prevention and control of epidemic- and pandemic-prone acute respiratory infections in health care
This document is an update to the World Health Organization (WHO) interim guidelines Infection prevention and control of epidemic- and pandemic-prone acute respiratory diseases in health care (2007). These updated guidelines incorporate the emergency guidance given in the WHO publication Infection prevention and control during health care for confirmed, probable, or suspected cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection and influenza-like illness (2009). The revision was informed by both evidence that has emerged since the first edition was published and the practical lessons learnt during the influenza pandemic in 2009.
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The generic all-hazards risk assessment and planning tool for mass gathering events
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https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2023-Generic-Mass-gatherings-All-Hazards-RAtool-2023-1
Considerations for school-related public health measures in the context of COVID-19: annex to considerations in adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19 (Annex)
"This Annex replaces a document published by the World Health Organization on 10 May 2020 entitled Considerations for school related public health measures in the context of COVID-19. The main changes introduced in this document are a risk-based approach for school operations in the context of COVID-19 based on the level and intensity of the transmission at administrative levels lower than the national level, age-appropriate considerations for both physical distancing and the use of masks in the school setting and comprehensive, multi-layered measures to prevent introduction and spread of SARS-COV-2 in educational setting.
This Annex is intended to help policy makers and educators with making decisions on running schools as safely as possible during
the COVID-19 pandemic. At the forefront of all considerations and decisions should be the continuity of education for children for
their overall well-being, health and safety. Nonetheless, all decisions will have implications for children, parents or caregivers,
teachers and other staff and more broadly, their communities and societies."
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WHO policy brief: Reaching COVID-19 vaccination targets, 14 September 2022
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WHO Behavioural and Cultural Insights flagship – tailoring health policies
"The new Behavioural and Cultural Insights flagship launched by WHO/Europe aims to help Member States gain insights into the underlying barriers to and drivers of health.
Using an evidence-informed approach and building on multidisciplinary research from the humanities and social sciences, the flagship supports Member States in tackling the complex health problems that our societies face today.
This nuanced insight does not replace biomedical approaches to policy and planning. Instead, it supports and strengthens these by systematically exploring the perspectives of individuals and communities. This allows Member States to provide clearer, more actionable and more targeted health policies that promote better health outcomes."
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Public health surveillance for COVID-19: interim guidance
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Seventh meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on Safe Schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic: Copenhagen, Denmark
The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Safe Schooling During the COVID-19 Pandemic was set up to provide strategic and technical advice to the WHO Regional Office for Europe on matters relating to schooling in times of COVID-19, including the epidemiology of school transmission, infection prevention and control and public health measures and their effects on the development and well-being of school-aged children. The TAG aims to identify findings from emerging evidence to inform policy decisions in terms of education, social, development and health outcomes for children and adolescents. This report is of the seventh TAG meeting, held on 12 October 2021
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WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: module 3: diagnosis: rapid diagnostics for tuberculosis detection, 2021 update
WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: module 3: diagnosis: rapid diagnostics for tuberculosis detection, 2021 update
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Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations
"In this consolidated guidelines document on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations, WHO brings together all existing guidance relevant to five key populations – men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, people in prisons and other closed settings, sex workers and transgender people – and updates selected guidance and recommendations.
These guidelines aim to:
- provide a comprehensive package of evidence-based HIV-related recommendations for all key populations;
- increase awareness of the needs of and issues important to key populations;
- improve access, coverage and uptake of effective and acceptable services; and
- catalyze greater national and global commitment to adequate funding and services."
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Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations
The Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations outline a public health response for 5 key populations (men who have sex with men, trans and gender diverse people, sex workers, people who inject drugs and people in prisons and other closed settings). They present and discuss new recommendations and consolidate a range of recommendations and guidance from current WHO guidelines.
Particularly for key populations, social, legal, structural and other contextual factors both increase vulnerability to HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs and obstruct access to health and other essential services.
These guidelines highlight the critical importance of addressing structural barriers in all settings as a priority. In most countries, inadequate coverage and poor quality of services for key populations continue to undermine responses to HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. All countries should prioritize reaching key populations and supporting key population communities to lead the response and provide equitable, accessible and acceptable services to these groups.
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Surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing for Monkeypox
This is an updated version of the interim guidance for surveillance, case investigation and contact-tracing for mpox published on 22 December 2022. It applies to all countries. The document has been revised to align with the recommended reporting procedures following the issuance of the WHO Standing recommendations for mpox and includes the most recent information available on mpox. The document contains a new chapter on mpox reinfection and provides case definitions for suspected, probable and confirmed reinfection. It has also been adapted to include more considerations relevant to endemic contexts in the African region.
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Standing recommendations for COVID-19 issued by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR)
These standing recommendations are issued by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) in accordance with provisions of Articles 16 to 18, and 50 to 53 of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR or Regulations). These standing recommendations are in effect for all States Parties from 9 August 2023 until 30 April 2025.
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Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services, 2019
"These consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services (HTS) bring together existing and new guidance on HTS across different settings and populations.
In this guideline, WHO updates recommendation on HIV self-testing (HIVST) and provides new recommendations on social network-based HIV testing approaches and western blotting. This guideline seeks to provide support to Member States, programme managers, health workers and other stakeholders seeking to achieve national and international goals to end the HIV epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
These guidelines also provide operational guidance on HTS demand creation and messaging; implementation considerations for priority populations; HIV testing strategies for diagnosis HIV; optimizing the use of dual HIV/syphilis rapid diagnostic tests; and considerations for strategic planning and rationalizing resources such as optimal time points for maternal retesting."
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WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience
This comprehensive WHO guideline provides global, evidence-informed recommendations on routine antenatal care. The guidance aims to capture the complex nature of the issues surrounding ANC health care practices and delivery and to prioritize person-centred health and well-being, not only the prevention of death and morbidity, in accordance with a human rights-based approach. This guideline is relevant to all pregnant women and adolescent girls receiving ANC in any healthcare or community setting and their unborn fetuses and newborns.
This document is intended for a wide audience including national and local policymakers, implementers and managers of national and local maternal and child health programmes, non-governmental and other organizations and professional societies involved in the planning and management of maternal and child health services, health professionals including obstetricians, midwives, nurses, general medical practitioners, academic staff involved in training health professionals, managers of maternal and child health programmes and public health policymakers in all settings.
This guideline covers recommendations in various areas including nutrition, maternal and fetal assessment, preventative measures, interventions for common physiological symptoms and interventions to improve antenatal care utilization and quality of care.
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Public health leadership and the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
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Cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in
the context of COVID-19
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Public health advice for gatherings during the current monkeypox outbreak
"The purpose of this document is to provide public health advice to host governments, public health authorities, national or international organizers, and professional staff involved in the planning and delivery of gatherings, including people organizing smaller gatherings or attending gatherings of any type and size.
During gatherings, the likely high density and mobility of attendees (crowding) represents a conducive environment for close, prolonged and frequent interactions between people. Furthermore, it may also be associated with the widespread adoption of risky behaviours and unsafe practices, including unsafe sexual practice, therefore playing a role in the spread of the monkeypox virus.
WHO recommends that the decision-making process related to gatherings of any size and type should rely on a risk-based approach, tailored to the characteristics of the event under consideration and be repeated at regular intervals. In the context of the current outbreak, monkeypox-associated risks should be considered and factored in when planning an event. Postponing or cancelling gatherings in areas where monkeypox cases have been detected is not required as a default measure, and gatherings should be used as opportunities for information outreach and community engagement."
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Guidance for implementing non pharmacological public health measures in populations in situations of vulnerability in the context of COVID-19
The purpose of this guide is to offer recommendations for improving the implementation of non‑pharmacological public health measures during the COVID-19 response and compliance with these measures by population groups in situations of vulnerability. This requires determining the main barriers to implementing these measures so that we can identify the groups and territories most affected during the different phases of the pandemic. With this objective in mind––and within the framework of an equity, human rights, and diversity approach––, policies, strategies, and interventions to accompany the implementation and flexibilization of the measures are recommended to ensure that no one is left behind.
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Guidelines on the treatment of skin and oral HIV-associated conditions in children and adults
Skin and mucosal conditions are extremely common in all children and adults in particular in HIV-infected adults and children and are one of the commonest daily management problems faced by health care workers caring for patients with HIV infection. As the CD4 count declines below 200 cells/mm3, the prevalence, spectrum and severity of skin and oral conditions increases. Although not a major cause of mortality, skin and mucosal conditions can be a source of severe morbidity through intractable pruritus that provokes scratching, disfigurement, sleep disturbance, pain on swallowing, and psychological stress.
Several infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic skin and mucosal conditions are pathognomonic of HIV/AIDS, e.g. Kaposi sarcoma, herpes zoster, papular pruritic eruption and extensive candidiasis. The World Health Organization’s department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health in collaboration with HIV/AIDS has selected ten skin and mucosal conditions based on burden of disease and has developed the guidelines on treatment. There is also an accompanying tool on the clinical algorithms for the recognition of these conditions.
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Public health criteria to adjust public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19: annex to considerations in adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19 (Annex)
In response to COVID-19, countries around the globe have implemented several public health and social measures (PHSM), including large scale measures such as movement restrictions, closure of schools and businesses, geographical area quarantine, and international travel restrictions. As the local epidemiology of the disease changes, countries will adjust (loosen/reinstate) these measures accordingly. On 16 April 2020, WHO published interim guidance that provides advice on adjusting PHSM, while managing the risk of resurgence of cases. A series of annexes was developed to help guide countries through adjusting various public health measures in different contexts. This annex shows a pragmatic decision process for adapting PHSM based on epidemiological and public health criteria, and it should be read in conjunction with the interim guidance document.
The document presents only public health criteria, while other critical factors, such as economic factors, security-related factors, human rights, food security, and public sentiment, should also be considered.
This document is intended for national authorities and decision makers in countries that have introduced large scale PHSM and are considering adjusting them.
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Prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections for sex workers in low- and middle-income countries: recommendations for a public health approach
"The objective of this document is to provide technical recommendations on effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sex workers and their clients. These include evidence-based recommendations following the GRADE methodology as well as recommendations for good practice.
Good practice recommendations are overarching principles derived not from scientific evidence but from common sense, ethics and human rights principles. These recommendations did not go through a formal GRADE process but should be strongly promoted in all interventions with sex workers. The technical recommendations are supported not only by scientific evidence but also the lived experience of sex workers around the world as expressed in the results of a community values and preferences survey and at the guideline consensus meeting."
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Considerations for school-related public health measures in the context of COVID-19: annex to considerations in adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19 (Annex)
In response to COVID-19, countries around the world have implemented several public health and social measures (PHSM), such as movement restrictions, closure of schools and businesses, and international travel restrictions. As the local epidemiology of the disease changes, countries will adjust (i.e. loosen or reinstate) these measures according to the intensity of transmission. WHO has issued guidance on adjusting PHSM while managing the risk of resurgence of cases. A series of annexes has been developed to help guide countries through adjusting various public health measures in different contexts. This annex provides considerations for decision-makers and educators on how or when to reopen or close schools in the context of COVID-19. These decisions have important implications for children, parents or caregivers, teachers and other staff, communities, and society at large. This document was drafted based a review of available literature, discussion with experts, regional partners and country examples.
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The work of WHO in the South-East Asia Region: report of the Regional Director, 1 January – 31 December 2021
This Annual Report describes the work of the World Health Organization in the South-EastAsia Region from 1 January to 31 December 2021. It highlights the public health achievements in the Region, the challenges faced and WHO's contribution towards achieving the Organization's strategic objectives through collaborative activity with Member States, partners and stakeholders. It also details the progress made in the Regional Flagship Priority Programmes and in the quest to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 in the Region under the leadership of the WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia. Perhaps the most important of all the endeavours of WHO and Member States was the Regional Office's efforts at preventing and limiting transmission of COVID-19 during the second year of the pandemic in collaboration with countries. Various and unrelenting waves of infection stretched the health systems of Member States to the extreme. WHO moved swiftly with equipment, drugs and other necessary items to save lives, in collaboration with the ministries of health, other UN Specialized Agencies, stake holders and partners. WHO also helped Member States with their roll-out of the COVID-19vaccination programmes. This report will be useful for all those interested in the developments in health and well-being in the Region.
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Virtual Meeting of the Biregional Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III): Advancing Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005), Manila, Philippines, 27-29 July 2021: meeting report
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https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/350979/RS-2021-GE-14-virtual-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Guidelines: updated recommendations on HIV prevention, infant diagnosis, antiretroviral initiation and monitoring
These guidelines provide new and updated recommendations on the use of point-of-care testing in children under 18 months of age and point-of-care tests to monitor treatment in people living with HIV; the treatment monitoring algorithm; and timing of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV who are being treated for tuberculosis.
WHO is currently in the process of collating all HIV normative guidance developed since 2016 in order to publish the third edition of the consolidated HIV guidelines in July 2021. This updated version will include the new clinical guidance presented here.
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WHO recommendations on the diagnosis of HIV infection in infants and children
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Schooling in the time of COVID-19: towards a consensus on schooling in the European Region during the COVID-19 pandemic
This working paper serves as a reference point for national education and health authorities as they seek to plan and implement effective schooling during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Originally prepared toinform the high-level meeting on “Schooling in the time of COVID-19” held on 31 August 2020,it seeks to provide a general framework and upstream considerations for decision-makers.
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Strategy considerations for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viruses in the WHO European Region during autumn and winter 2022/23: protecting the vulnerable with agility, efficiency, and trust
This document provides strategic guidance to Member States in the WHO European Region in their decision-making to calibrate interventions in preparing for the autumn and winter of 2022/23. The rationale behind the need for interventions is based on the recent upsurge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases during the summer; the likelihood of another COVID-19 surge in the autumn and winter; and increased risk of other respiratory virus infections as we enter the autumn season and their co-circulation with COVID-19. A critical component of the response to COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses is the need to protect vulnerable populations.
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Consolidated Guidelines on HIV Prevention, Testing, Treatment, Service Delivery and Monitoring: Recommendations for a Public Health Approach
"These consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, testing, treatment, service delivery and monitoring bring together existing and new clinical and programmatic recommendations across different ages, populations and settings, bringing together all relevant WHO guidance on HIV produced since 2016. It serves as an update to the previous edition of the consolidated guidelines on HIV.
These guidelines continue to be structured along the continuum of HIV care. Information on new combination prevention approaches, HIV testing, ARV regimens and treatment monitoring are included. There is a new chapter on advanced HIV disease that integrates updated guidance on the management of important HIV comorbidities, including cryptococcal disease, histoplasmosis and tuberculosis. The chapter on general HIV care, contains a new section on palliative care and pain management, and up to date information on treatment of several neglected tropical diseases, such as visceral leishmaniasis and Buruli ulcer. New recommendations for screening and treating of cervical pre-cancer lesions in women living with HIV are also addressed in this chapter.
Guidance on service delivery was expanded to help the implementation and strengthening the HIV care cascade. Importantly, this guidance emphasizes the need for differentiated approaches to care for people who are established on ART, such as reduced frequency of clinic visits, use of multi-month drug dispensing and implementation of community ART distribution. The adoption of these efficiencies is essential to improve the quality of care of people receiving treatment and reduce the burden on health facilities, particularly in resource limited settings."
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Risk assessment tool to inform mitigation measures for international travel in the context of COVID-19 (Annex)
This document provides detailed guidance on how to implement risk mitigation measures for the gradual resumption of international travel in the context of COVID-19 by conducting a risk assessment using a mixed-methods approach, including both quantitative and qualitative data.
This risk assessment methodology is most useful for destination countries experiencing community transmission, for which the primary concern is to not overwhelm health system capacity, not to eliminate transmission.
This tool should be read in conjunction with the WHO interim guidance documents “Considerations for implementing a risk-based approach to international travel in the context of COVID-19” and “Considerations for implementing and adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19” (1).
It should be noted that this tool is subject to piloting exercises, which may result in its updating and upgrading. It may be refined based on user experience
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Use of chest imaging in COVID-19: a rapid advice guide, 11 June 2020
This rapid advice guide examines the evidence and makes recommendations for the use of chest imaging in acute care of adult patients with suspected, probable or confirmed COVID-19. Imaging modalities considered are radiography, computed tomography and ultrasound. This guide addresses the care pathway from presentation of the patient to a health facility to patient discharge. It considers different levels of disease severity, from asymptomatic individuals to critically ill patients. Accounting for variations in the benefits and harms of chest imaging in different situations, remarks are provided to describe the circumstances under which each recommendation would benefit patients. The guide also includes implementation considerations for different settings, provides suggestions for impact monitoring and evaluation and identifies knowledge gaps meriting further research.
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Clinical management of COVID-19: living guideline, 18 August 2023
The WHO COVID-19 Clinical management: living guidance contains the most up-to-date recommendations for the clinical management of people with COVID-19. Providing guidance that is comprehensive and holistic for the optimal care of COVID-19 patients throughout their entire illness is important. The latest version is available in pdf format, and is updated regularly as new evidence emerges.
The latest version (7th version) contains one new recommendation:
** NEW** Conditional recommendation for awake prone positioning for severely ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19 requiring supplemental oxygen (includes HFNO) or non-invasive ventilation (moderate/low certainty evidence). (published 18 August 2023).
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Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection: recommendations for a public health approach, 2nd ed
These guidelines provide guidance on the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection and the care of people living with HIV. They are structured along the continuum of HIV testing, prevention, treatment and care.
This edition updates the 2013 consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs following an extensive review of evidence and consultations in mid-2015, shared at the end of 2015, and now published in full in 2016. It is being published in a changing global context for HIV and for health more broadly.
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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Indigenous Peoples of the Region of the Americas: Perspectives and Opportunities. Report on the High-Level Regional Meeting, 30 October 2020
In order to continue creating opportunities for dialogue and implementing the universal health agenda in the COVID-19 response in indigenous populations, PAHO organized a high-level meeting on 30 October 2020 to move forward in drafting a road map to strengthen the COVID-19 response, highlighting the priorities, needs, and proposals raised by the indigenous populations, with an intercultural approach and in coordination with the indigenous peoples of the Region. This report summarizes the main perspectives and opportunities recognized during the high-level meeting, both by the indigenous leaders themselves and by representatives of some ministries of health of the Region. The issues identified are widely applicable to all of the indigenous populations; however, due to their important contextual and cultural differences, they should be considered using differentiated approaches, based on the special economic, social, political, and environmental features of each population.
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WHO guidelines for the treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Since the publication of the WHO Guidelines for the management of sexually transmitted infections in 2003, changes in the epidemiology of STIs and advancements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment necessitate changes in STI management. There is an urgent need to update treatment recommendations for gonococcal infections to respond to changing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of N. gonorrhoeae. High-level resistance to previously recommended quinolones is widespread and decreased susceptibility to the extended-spectrum (third-generation) cephalosporins, another recommended first-line treatment in the 2003 guidelines, is increasing and several countries have reported treatment failures.
These guidelines for the treatment of common infections caused by N. gonorrhoeae form one of several modules of guidelines for specific STIs. Other modules will focus on treatments for Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2; genital herpes) and Treponema pallidum (syphilis). In addition, future work will provide guidance for syphilis screening and treatment of pregnant women, STI syndromic approach, clinical management, STI prevention, and treatments for other STIs. It is strongly recommended that countries take updated global guidance into account as they establish standardized national protocols, adapting this guidance to the local epidemiological situation and antimicrobial susceptibility data
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Safe Ramadan practices in the context of COVID-19
This document is an update of the same title published by WHO on 15 April 2020 (1). Updates reflect the latest guidance on COVID-19 published by WHO since then, with focus on areas of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, critical preparedness, public health and social measures (PHSMs)/precautionary measures, ventilation, high-risk and vulnerable groups, vaccination, and use of masks. The advice included in this publication has been tailored to the Ramadan context
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Guidelines for the management of pregnant and breastfeeding women in the context of Ebola virus disease
A paucity of scientific evidence exists on how to best treat pregnant or breastfeeding women with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus disease (EVD). Historical reports suggest that, among women who acquire EVD during pregnancy, there is increased mortality and morbidity, and a near 100% rate of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
To save the lives of mothers and their babies, mitigate complications, and limit the spread of disease, it is critical that recommendations are made on the prevention, treatment, and surveillance of women who are exposed to EVD, acquire EVD during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or survive EVD with ongoing pregnancies. These guidelines are the first to provide such recommendations.
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Preventing and mitigating COVID-19 at work: policy brief
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https://openwho.org/courses/WHO-COVID-19-mass-gatherings-risk-assessment-training
The purpose of this course is to provide guidance for health authorities and organizers of mass gatherings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the specific aim of containing risks associated with transmission of this infection.
The training describes the risk-based approach that WHO recommends to aid health authorities and event organizers in their planning for upcoming mass gatherings amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. WHO has developed a set of COVID-19 risk assessments tools dedicated to generic mass gatherings as well as to sports specific and religious specific mass gatherings. These risk assessment tools provide a user-friendly way for health authorities and organizers to understand the level of risk an upcoming mass gathering may hold in further spreading COVID-19, both within a country and globally, and to learn about the precautionary measures that can be applied to the planned event to mitigate such risk. All of the tools mentioned can be found on the WHO website. The course has been developed in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, WHO Collaborating Centre on Global Health Security.
WHO policy brief: COVID-19 infodemic management, 14 September 2022
Key points
Train health workers, who are often the most trusted source of health information, to better identify and address health misinformation.
Tailor health, information and digital literacy initiatives to specific populations, and seek to debunk misinformation before it is widely disseminated through digital media and other channels.
Strive to develop high-quality, accessible health information in different digital formats designed for reuse, remixing and sharing and for rapid digital spread through social networks.
Establish an infodemic workforce for rapid infodemic insights generation and response, if necessary, by training staff to fulfil these functions; and ensure this function is clearly linked to and aligned with risk communications and community engagement efforts.
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SHIFTS – The COVID-19 Pandemic: shifting the world and shaping its response
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WHO policy brief: Clinical management of COVID-19, 14 September 2022
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Contact tracing in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance
This document is an update of the guidance published in May 2020. It provides public health authorities with guidance on riskbased prioritization of contact tracing activities when transmission is at high levels. Other sections of the guidance have also been updated to reflect lessons learned on contact definition, community engagement operational principles in the context of contact tracing, digital tools for contact tracing, and examples of key performance indicators (KPIs).
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Checklist to support schools re-opening and preparation for COVID-19 resurgences or similar public health crises
The purpose of this checklist is to enhance compliance and adherence with the public health measures outlined in the recently-updated Considerations for school-related public health measures in the context of COVID-19, particularly taking into consideration children under the age of 18 years in educational settings and schools with limited resources. The checklist was developed in accordance with the health-promoting schools principles and approaches. It highlights the importance of multi-level coordination (i.e. national, subnational and individual school levels) and both participatory and co-designed approaches among various stakeholders (e.g. school staff, teachers, students and parents). The approach aims to optimize compliance with public health and social measures based on social and cultural contexts, as described in Considerations for implementing and adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19. The checklist is designed to support policy-makers, staff and officials from the education and health sectors, local authorities, school principals/leaders and administrators, teachers’ unions, community leaders, school staff, teachers, parents and caregivers.
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COVID-19 diagnostic testing in the context of international travel: scientific brief
This document provides guidance to help Member States assess the severity of the COVID-19 situation and to implement PHSM at different resulting Situational Levels. This updated guidance eliminates the use of categorical transmission classifications with numeric cut-offs as a metric for adjusting PHSM. The guidance further shifts the focus of situational assessment to the dimensions of COVID-19 morbidity/mortality and health system impact (with the latter retained from the previous version). Consequently, the situational level matrix and the wording of each situational level have been updated to take into account these changes.
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Sustain Accelerate Innovate - South-East Asia: flagship priority programmes driving impact in countries for the health of billions
This publication complies 11 success stories from countries in the Region, each pertaining to one of the eight Flagship Priorities. It includes stories on preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases in Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Thailand; strengthening emergency risk management in Bangladesh, Nepal and Timor-Leste; accelerating efforts to end TB in Myanmar; role of traditional medicine in health care in DPR Korea; healthy city approach in Indonesia; innovative steps taken by Maldives to combat climate change; and accelerating reductions of maternal, neonatal and under-five mortality in India. It highlights an array of best practices and innovative approaches used at country level. Countries in the Region and across the world can learn from each other’s experience and find these innovations useful in their efforts to accelerate progress in each of these priority areas and more.
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Considerations for public health and social measures in the workplace in the context of COVID-19 (Annex)
On 16 April 2020, WHO published interim guidance that provides advice on adjusting PHSM, i while managing the risk of resurgence of cases. A series of annexes was developed to help guide countries through adjusting various public health measures in different contexts. This annex is for those involved in developing policies and standard operating procedures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace, including employers, workers and their representatives, labour unions and business associations, local public health and labour authorities, and occupational safety and health practitioners. This document offers general guidance for non-healthcare workplaces and workers in those settings. Additional protective measures may be necessary for specialized workplaces. Specific recommendations for protection of the health and safety of some frontline public workers are also included in the existing WHO guidance for the accommodation sector, detention centers, schools, food businesses, aviation sector, water, sanitation, and waste management, camps, and construction.
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WHO housing and health guidelines [1]
Improved housing conditions can save lives, prevent disease, increase quality of life, reduce poverty, and help mitigate climate change. Housing is becoming increasingly important to health in light of urban growth, ageing populations and climate change.
The WHO Housing and health guidelines bring together the most recent evidence to provide practical recommendations to reduce the health burden due to unsafe and substandard housing. Based on newly commissioned systematic reviews, the guidelines provide recommendations relevant to inadequate living space (crowding), low and high indoor temperatures, injury hazards in the home, and accessibility of housing for people with functional impairments. In addition, the guidelines identify and summarize existing WHO guidelines and recommendations related to housing, with respect to water quality, air quality, neighbourhood noise, asbestos, lead, tobacco smoke and radon. The guidelines take a comprehensive, intersectoral perspective on the issue of housing and health and highlight co-benefits of interventions addressing several risk factors at the same time.
The WHO Housing and health guidelines aim at informing housing policies and regulations at the national, regional and local level and are further relevant in the daily activities of implementing actors who are directly involved in the construction, maintenance and demolition of housing in ways that influence human health and safety. The guidelines therefore emphasize the importance of collaboration between the health and other sectors and joint efforts across all government levels to promote healthy housing. The guidelines’ implementation at country-level will in particular contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals on health (SDG 3) and sustainable cities (SDG 11). WHO will support Member States in adapting the guidelines to national contexts and priorities to ensure safe and healthy housing for all.
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WHO mass gathering event database survey
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WHO guidelines for the prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus
WHO published interim guidelines on the prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus in September 2016, based on a limited amount of evidence under an emergency process during a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The body of evidence has grown considerably since then, and WHO experts concluded, at a meeting in March 2017, that the guidelines should be redeveloped under the formal WHO guideline process.
These guidelines contain updated recommendations on the prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus, based on the best available evidence as of June 2018.
These guidelines aim to inform national and subnational policy makers, healthcare providers, other healthcare stakeholders and the general public.
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https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/332466/9789241550482-eng.pdf?sequence=1
Technical note to WHO AFRO Member States on international travel
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Survey tool and guidance. Rapid, simple, flexible behavioural insights on COVID-19
This document provides guidance to Member States in the WHO European Region that wish to conduct behavioural insights studies related to COVID-19.
This guidance document introduces:
- guidance on the recommended process and steps
- a sample methodology
- advice for obtaining ethical clearance
- a suggested sample questionnaire (Annex 1)
- codes for data analysis and establishing a protected website for presentation of findings (Annex 2).
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Pan American Health Organization Response to COVID-19. 2022 mid-year summary report. Key indicators and selected highlights
This mid-year report (January-June 2022) summarizes the Pan American Health Organization's main efforts to support countries and territories in the Americas to detect, track, treat and slow the spread of COVID-19, as well as to facilitate vaccine procurement and deployment within the ten pillars of WHO's Strategic Preparedness and Response Strategy.
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Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services: 5Cs: consent, confidentiality, counselling, correct results and connection 2015
Countries, programme managers, health workers and other stakeholders have indicated the importance of consolidating World Health Organization (WHO) guidance for HIV testing services (HTS). Thus, this guidance brings together existing guidance relevant to the provision of HTS and addresses issues and elements for effective delivery of HTS that are common in a variety of settings, contexts and diverse populations. In addition, this document provides a new recommendation to support HTS by trained lay providers, considers the potential of HIV self-testing to increase access to and coverage of HIV testing, and outlines focused and strategic approaches to HTS that are needed to support the new UN 90–90–90 global HIV targets – the first target being diagnosis of 90% of people with HIV (20). Moreover, this guidance will assist national programme managers and service providers, including those from community-based programmes, in planning for and implementing HTS.
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Annex to Infection prevention and control during health care when coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is suspected or confirmed
This document is an update of guidance published on 12 July 2021, after the review of new scientific evidence on transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC). The evidence was reviewed, and guidance issued using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) process. It contains updated recommendations on the use of masks and respirators for health workers providing care to suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
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Interim Guidance on Public Health and Social Measures for COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Operations in Low Capacity and Humanitarian Settings
This Interim Guidance outlines how key public health and social measures needed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread and the impact of the disease can be adapted for use in low capacity and humanitarian settings. The recommendations outlined here need to be adjusted to the scale of transmission, context and resources, in order to achieve the objective of managing COVID-19, namely to reduce transmission and facilitate the detection and management of infected and exposed individuals within the population. The Guidance is intended for humanitarian and development actors of all operational levels working with communities, as well as local authorities involved in COVID-19 preparedness and response operations in these settings, in support of national and local governments and plans. Additional considerations for support to residents of urban informal settlements and slums are available in Annex 1.
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WHO guideline on syphilis screening and treatment for pregnant women
Since the publication of the WHO Guidelines for the management of sexually transmitted infections in 2003, changes in the epidemiology of STIs and advancements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment necessitate changes in STI management.
This guideline provides updated recommendations for syphilis screening and treatment for pregnant women based on the most recent evidence and available serologic tests for syphilis.
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Joint WHO Regional Office for Europe/ECDC Monkeypox Resource toolkit to support national authorities and event organisers in their planning and coordination of mass and large gathering events
This toolkit, jointly created by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), provides health authorities and event organisers with ready-to-use and customisable tools for public health preparedness and risk assessment; early warning, alert and response (EWAR); and event-based surveillance; contact tracing; and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) including health information and advice on monkeypox for mass gatherings.
This resource toolkit accompanies the Interim advice for public health authorities on summer events during the monkeypox outbreak in Europe, 2022, aiming to provide concise advice to public health authorities and guide their prevention and RCCE interventions before, during, and after upcoming summer events. The toolkit offers a one-stop-shop for technical guidance, trainings, materials and operational tools to support health authorities and event organisers prepare for upcoming large and mass gathering events during the summer. The toolkit will be updated with new materials and resources over time. Different sections can be used by health authorities and other audiences to formulate advice to business and venue owners and event organisers, as well as participants themselves. All advice can be adapted to the local context and the relevant audience and translated into national languages as required.
Operational framework for international travel-related public health measures in the context of COVID-19
Continued community transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in most Member States of the WHO European Region means that international travel will continue to pose a particular challenge in the coming year. Member States should take appropriate measures to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, during international travel, recognizing that a comprehensive set of public health measures adapted to the local epidemiological context and capacities can mitigate the risk substantially but cannot achieve “zero risk”. Therefore, a risk-based approach to international travel is needed, which prioritizes essential travel. The aim of this operational framework is to support Member States of the WHO European Region in their decision-making options with regard to international travel measures in the context of the constantly changing epidemiological situation across the Region and limited scientific evidence on the effectiveness of measures. Taking into account the practices, trends and lessons learnt in implementing travel restrictions over the past year, the framework establishes a coordinated approach by outlining guiding principles and considerations, risk-assessment criteria and indicators in areas such as local epidemiology in departure and destination countries, public health and health service capacity and performance, contextual factors and point-of-entry capacity. This will guide decisions on introducing, reintroducing or easing international travel measures.
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Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with chronic hepatitis C infection, Updated version, April 2016
The field of HCV therapeutics continues to evolve rapidly and, since the World Health Organization (WHO) issued its first Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with hepatitis C infection in 2014, several new medicines have been approved by at least one stringent regulatory authority. These medicines, called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), are transforming the treatment of HCV, enabling regimens that can be administered orally, are of shorter duration (as short as eight weeks), result in cure rates higher than 90%, and are associated with fewer serious adverse events than the previous interferon- containing regimens. WHO is updating its hepatitis C treatment guidelines to provide recommendations for the use of these new medicines.
The objectives of these WHO guidelines are to provide updated evidence- based recommendations for the treatment of persons with hepatitis C infection using, where possible, all DAA-only combinations. The guidelines also provide recommendations on the preferred regimens based on a patient’s HCV genotype and clinical history, and assess the appropriateness of continued use of certain medicines. This document also includes existing recommendations on screening for HCV infection and care of persons infected with HCV that were first issued in 2014.
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WHO Guidelines for malaria, 14 March 2023
The WHO Guidelines for malaria bring together the Organization’s most up-to-date recommendations for malaria in one user-friendly and easy-to-navigate online platform.
The WHO Guidelines for malaria supersedes 2 previous WHO publications: the Guidelines for the treatment of malaria, third edition and the Guidelines for malaria vector control. Recommendations on malaria will continue to be reviewed and, where appropriate, updated based on the latest available evidence. Any updated recommendations will always display the date of the most recent revision in the MAGICapp platform. With each update, a new PDF version of the consolidated guidelines will also be available for download on the WHO website.
This version of the Guidelines includes revised information regarding the WHO recommendation for use of indoor residual spraying to prevent malaria and the conditional recommendation against the use of topical repellents to control malaria at the community level. It replaces the versions published on 16 February 2021, 13 July 2021, 18 February 2022, 31 March 2022, 3 June 2022, 25 November 2022 and 14 March 2023
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WHO Country Office Kazakhstan: mid-year activity report 2021
This Mid-Year Activity Report provides detailed information on COVID-19 activities and other programmatic initiatives that were implemented from January to June 2021 by the WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan (WHO Kazakhstan).
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Accelerating health emergency preparedness and response – a plan of action
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https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/EMRC68R2-eng.pdf?ua=1
Consolidated guideline on sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV
"The starting point for this guideline is the point at which a woman has learnt that she is living with HIV, and it therefore covers key issues for providing comprehensive SRHR-related services and support for women living with HIV. As women living with HIV face unique challenges and human rights violations related to their sexuality and reproduction within their families and communities, as well as from the health-care institutions where they seek care, particular emphasis is placed on the creation of an enabling environment to support more effective health interventions and better health outcomes.
This guideline responds to requests from organizations, institutions and individuals for guidance which consolidates existing recommendations specific to women living with HIV along with new recommendations and good practice statements. It is expected to support front-line health-care providers, programme managers and public health policy-makers around the world to better address the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women living with HIV."
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Digital guide - Facilitate planning and implementation for health security preparedness: strengthening health emergency capacities
This digital platform supports countries to easily use existing assessments, benchmark recommendations and implementation tools to build International Health Regulations (IHR) and health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience capacities.
Joint WHO/ILO policy guidelines on improving health worker access to prevention, treatment and care services for HIV and TB
This document presents an evidence-informed policy for the provision of improved access to HIV and TB prevention, treatment, care and support for health workers. This policy guideline complements and synthesizes other WHO guidelines, especially related to TB infection control, HIV control in the workplace, health-systems strengthening, clinical diagnoses and treatment for HIV and TB, as well as reproductive health and occupational health. Indeed the primary purpose of these guidelines is to draw together previously developed clinical and policy guidelines, along with recent evidence, into a coherent set of recommendations that aim to provide improved access of health workers to HIV and TB services.
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WHO public health checklist for controlling the spread of COVID-19 in aviation
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Interim advice for public health authorities on summer events during the monkeypox outbreak in Europe, 2022
The aim of this document is to provide concise advice to public health authorities and guide their prevention, awareness-raising and behaviour change interventions before, during and after upcoming summer events. This will enable them to maximise opportunities for disseminating reliable information, advice and practical guidance to participants and minimise the public health risk from monkeypox. Although the main focus is monkeypox in the context of the current multi-country outbreak, much of the advice addresses good public health practices in general which may help prevent the transmission of a number of infectious diseases (e.g. HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), etc.). This guidance also includes sections which can be used to formulate advice to business/venue owners and event organisers, as well as participants themselves. All advice can be adapted to the local context and the relevant audience and translated into national languages, as required.
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WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion
In 2014, WHO issued the first-ever health-based guidelines on clean fuels and technologies for household cooking, heating and lighting. These guidelines aim to help public health policy-makers, as well as specialists working on energy and resource issues, understand and implement best approaches to reducing household air pollution. This extensive scientific assessment identifies which energy systems can be considered clean for health in the home, and specifies the levels of emissions that pose health risks.
The guidelines also include recommendations against the use of unprocessed coal as a household fuel, and against the use of kerosene as a household fuel, in the light of health and safety risks. Another recommendation addresses the need for policies that prioritize substantial health benefits during the transition from use of solid, polluting fuels to clean fuels and technologies, especially in low-income and rural households
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https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/141496/9789241548885_eng.pdf?sequence=1
Guideline: infant feeding in areas of Zika virus transmission, 2nd ed
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WHO guidelines for the treatment of Treponema pallidum (syphilis)
Since the publication of the WHO Guidelines for the management of sexually transmitted infections in 2003, changes in the epidemiology of STIs and advancements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment necessitate changes in STI management.
These guidelines provide updated treatment recommendations for treatment of Treponema pallidum (syphilis) based on the most recent evidence. They form one of several modules of guidelines for specific STIs. Other modules will focus on treatments for Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhoea) and genital herpes simplex virus (genital HSV).
In addition, future work will provide guidance for syphilis screening and treatment of pregnant women, STI syndromic approach, clinical management, STI prevention, and treatments of other STIs. It is strongly recommended that countries take updated global guidance into account as they establish standardized national protocols and adapt it to the local epidemiological situation and antimicrobial susceptibility data.
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Critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19: interim guidance
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WHO guideline on self-care interventions for health and well-being, 2022 revision
A global shortage of an estimated 10 million health workers is anticipated by 2030, a record 130 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and there is the global threat of pandemics such as COVID-19. At least 400 million people worldwide lack access to the most essential health services, and every year 100 million people are plunged into poverty because they have to pay for healthcare out of their own pockets.
There is, therefore, an urgent need to find innovative strategies that go beyond the conventional health-sector response. These interventions are also relevant for all three areas of the Thirteenth General Programme of Work of the World Health Organization.
WHO recommends self-care interventions for every country and economic setting as critical components on the path to reaching universal health coverage (UHC), promoting health, keeping the world safe and serving the vulnerable.
A living version of the guideline is available in MAGICapp.
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Fifth and sixth meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on Safe Schooling during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Copenhagen, Denmark
The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Safe Schooling During the COVID-19 Pandemic was set up to provide strategic and technical advice to the WHO Regional Office for Europe on matters relating to schooling in times of COVID-19, including the epidemiology of school transmission, infection prevention and control and public health measures and their effects on the development and well-being of school-aged children. The TAG aims to identify findings from emerging evidence to inform policy decisions in terms of education, social, development and health outcomes for children and adolescents. This report is of the fifth and sixth TAG meetings, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 May 2021 and 8 June 2021.
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Calibrating public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19: towards sustainable application Interim Framework for the South-East Asia Region
This document proposes an interim framework for adjusting PHSMs in the South-East Asia Region, focusing on sustainable application at the subnational level. The document builds upon countries’ experiences and lessons learnt, while being based on the six conditions proposed by the WHO headquarters guidance for relaxing the PHSMs 2. The document aims to promote systematic and data-driven decision-making of the PHSMs, towards sustainable PHSM application, balancing effectiveness of interventions and their socioeconomic consequences.
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Public health surveillance for COVID-19: interim guidance
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Syndromic screening for COVID-19 of crossing land borders: Scientific brief; 21 December 2022 (https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/365385)
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, some countries have been performing syndromic screening of travellers who cross land borders. Methods include screening for fever and respiratory or other symptoms, observation and completion of health declaration forms. Communities neighbouring land borders are often very closely connected by economic and social activities and family ties and many travellers cross land borders daily or more. The issue of informal ground crossings and porous borders adds complexity to the assessment of the effectiveness of any intervention used to control the spread of COVID-19. This document, which chiefly targets public health and border crossing policy-makers, evaluates available scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of syndromic screening to prevent or limit the spread of COVID-19 at land borders.
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Roadmap to improve and ensure good indoor ventilation in the context of COVID-19
Understanding and controlling building ventilation can improve the quality of the air we breathe and reduce the risk of indoor health concerns including prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from spreading indoors. This roadmap aims to define the key questions users should consider to assess indoor ventilation and the major steps needed to reach recommended ventilation levels or simply improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in order to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19. It also includes recommendations on how to assess and measure the different parameters, specifically in health care, non-residential and residential settings whenever a person is under home care or home quarantine.
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COVID-19 SPRP Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
The COVID-19 SPRP Monitoring and Evaluation Framework aims to assess performance and provide recorded information to support analysis of progress against the COVID-19 SPRP and related Strategy Update, across the eight pillars of the public health response and a ninth pillar on maintaining essential health services and systems. Its main objective is to establish and maintain a set of global and country indicators to support: Strategic thinking, operational tracking, real-time evidence-based decision making and advocacy and transparency between countries/territories/areas, donors, UN agencies and partners involved in the response.
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Global technical consultation report on proposed terminology for pathogens that transmit through the air
Terminology used to describe the transmission of pathogens through the air varies across scientific disciplines, organizations and the general public. While this has been the case for decades, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the terms ‘airborne’, ‘airborne transmission’ and ‘aerosol transmission’ were used in different ways by stakeholders in different scientific disciplines, which may have contributed to misleading information and confusion about how pathogens are transmitted in human populations.
This global technical consultation report brings together viewpoints from experts spanning a range of disciplines with the key objective of seeking consensus regarding the terminology used to describe the transmission of pathogens through the air that can potentially cause infection in humans.
This consultation aimed to identify terminology that could be understood and accepted by different technical disciplines. The agreed process was to develop a consensus document that could be endorsed by global agencies and entities. Despite the complex discussions and challenges, significant progress was made during the consultation process, particularly the consensus on a set of descriptors to describe how pathogens are transmitted through the air and the related modes of transmission. WHO recognizes the important areas where consensus was not achieved and will continue to address these areas in follow-up consultations.
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Water and sanitation interventions to prevent and control mosquito borne disease: focus on emergencies
Climate change, conflict and human displacement are all growing in scale, increasing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. A number of effective water, sanitation and waste management measures exist and can be implemented to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. This WHO/UNICEF technical note provides practical information for implementing such measures with a focus on emergency contexts.
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Surveillance strategies for COVID-19 human infection: interim guidance
This document provides an overview of surveillance strategies that Member States should consider as part of comprehensive national surveillance for COVID-19. This document emphasizes the need to adapt and reinforce existing national systems where appropriate and to scale-up surveillance capacities as needed.
WHO previously published a guidance document for the “Global Surveillance for COVID-19 caused by human Infection with COVID-19 virus” that includes recommendations and tools for international reporting (accessible here). When reviewing national strategies for surveillance, Member States should provide sufficient capacity to report to WHO for global surveillance of COVID19.
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The WHO South-East Asia Regional Roadmap for diagnostic preparedness, integratedlaboratory networking and genomic surveillance was developed to provide Member Stateswith a range of policy options for enumerating sustainable strategies to improve their nationallaboratories and prepare laboratory systems to bolster surveillance and respond moreeffectively to emerging and re-emerging diseases and other potential public healthemergencies.
The WHO South-East Asia Regional Roadmap for diagnostic preparedness, integratedlaboratory networking and genomic surveillance was developed to provide Member Stateswith a range of policy options for enumerating sustainable strategies to improve their nationallaboratories and prepare laboratory systems to bolster surveillance and respond moreeffectively to emerging and re-emerging diseases and other potential public healthemergencies.
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A systematic approach to monitoring and analysing public health and social measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: underlying methodology and application of the PHSM database and PHSM Severity Index: updated July 2022
Public health and social measures (PHSM) have been utilized as a tool to reduce the infection rates and disease burden throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They continue to play an important role in preventing severe disease even with vaccination campaigns well under way. The 2022 methodology paper update introduces the PHSM Severity Index – for capturing, coding, visualizing and analysing PHSM responses to COVID-19 in countries across the WHO European Region. The PHSM Severity Index captures the types, severity and timing of PHSM implemented by a country across six main indicators. By providing standardized data on PHSM implementation, the PHSM Severity Index can support and inform the development of policy at country and regional levels. This paper aims to present the dataset and methodology as foundations for further studies. As the situation evolves, future iterations of the Index may include further indicators, more nuanced versions of existing indicators, further coding principles and revisions of the index formula. In addition, discerning the epidemiological impact of specific PHSM and their combinations is currently a priority for policy-makers and can guide countries’ transition strategies. Analysing the impact of PHSM on COVID-19 transmission is of critical importance, especially as variants of concern bring new waves of COVID-19 cases and may challenge countries’ vaccination and response strategies.
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Public health resource pack for countries experiencing outbreaks of influenza in animals: revised guidance
This resource pack was developed for the country offices of the World Health Organization and national Public Health institutions, as an overview of the key information needed for advising their Member States in response to questions raised on human health due to influenza outbreaks or detections in animals. It assembles the available information from WHO, FAO and WOAH, on recommendations and guidelines on influenza that might be relevant to a country experiencing detections or outbreaks of influenza in animals or facing suspicion of human infections with animal-origin influenza viruses. This resource pack updates the information provided in the Summary of Key Information Practical to Countries Experiencing Outbreaks of A(H5N1) and Other Subtypes of Avian Influenza, published in 2016. Additionally, the scope of this current document was broadened to address the risks to public health from all animal influenza viruses, not only avian influenza. Links to existing resources were updated and new resources were added where available. This guidance is an update and replaces a previous document: Summary of Key Information Practical to Countries Experiencing Outbreaks of A(H5N1) and Other Subtypes of Avian Influenza
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How systematic listening and community feedback can help us better respond to COVID-19
In February 2021, a new initiative was launched by WHO EMRO to assess and understand current practices and challenges to systematically listen to communities and respond to their feedback, provide the support country offices and partners need and discuss and agree on a joint way forward. The momentum to support vaccine uptake and roll out was leveraged to strengthen the social listening and community feedback approaches already in place, share lessons learnt, ensure peer learning within the region and find solutions to challenges to listen and respond to communities.
WHO public health checklist for controlling the spread of COVID-19 at ground crossings
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Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease
This document focuses on making recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease, an infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan agent of a systemic parasitic disease.
These clinical practice guidelines were prepared following the WHO handbook for guideline development (5). A multidisciplinary development group was formed, comprised of thematic experts, epidemiologists, methodologists, and users. Since there were no existing guidelines that could be adapted, the guidelines were developed from scratch. Searches were conducted to find systematic reviews and primary studies up to August 2017 in online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane) and through manual searches. Later, the evidence summary and profiles were prepared using the GRADE approach (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). The recommendations were graded by an expert panel on Chagas disease. The guidelines were peer evaluated according to subject area and methodology. All expert panel and development group participants signed conflict of interest statements that were analyzed by the guidelines coordination team.
This document provides recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of adult and pediatric patients. The following recommendations pertain to individuals with: 1) suspected Chagas disease; 2) exposure to Chagas disease; 3) diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease; and 4) diagnosis of acute Chagas disease.
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Regional roundtable meeting on ‘access to COVID-19 tools-accelerator (ACT-A) diagnostics pillar’ in the WHO South-East Asia region
Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) is a critical part of every country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of a coordinated response effective RCCE can help countries continue to drive down COVID-19 cases while simultaneously learning to live with COVID-19 in the longer term. This short framework produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is intended to guide countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region IFRC and UNICEF’s Middle East and North Africa Regions in developing their approaches to RCCE.
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Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of leprosy
The Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Leprosy provide state-of-the-art knowledge and evidence on leprosy diagnosis, treatment and prevention based on a public health approach in endemic countries. The target audience of this document includes policy-makers in leprosy or infectious diseases in the ministries of health (especially but not limited to endemic countries), nongovernmental organizations, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, donors and affected persons. These leprosy guidelines have been developed by strictly following WHO's GRADE approach wherein all available evidence published in English has been taken into consideration.
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Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations, 2016 update
"In this consolidated guidelines document on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations, WHO brings together all existing guidance relevant to five key populations – men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, people in prisons and other closed settings, sex workers and transgender people – and updates selected guidance and recommendations.
These guidelines aim to:
- provide a comprehensive package of evidence-based HIV-related recommendations for all key populations;
- increase awareness of the needs of and issues important to key populations;
- improve access, coverage and uptake of effective and acceptable services; and
- catalyze greater national and global commitment to adequate funding and services."
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Communicating risk in public health emergencies: a WHO guideline for emergency risk communication (ERC) policy and practice
"Recent public health emergencies, such as the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa (2014–2015), the emergence of the Zika virus syndrome in 2015–2016 and multi-country yellow fever outbreaks in Africa in 2016, have highlighted major challenges and gaps in how risk is communicated during epidemics and other health emergencies.
The challenges include the rapid transformation in communications technology, including the near-universal penetration of mobile telephones, the widespread use and increasingly powerful influence of digital media which has had an impact on ‘traditional’ media (newspapers, radio and television), and major changes in how people access and trust health information.
Important gaps include considerations of context – the social, economic, political and cultural factors influencing people’s perception of risk and their risk-reduction behaviours. Finally, guidance is needed on the best approaches for strengthening emergency risk communication (ERC) capacity and sustaining them for potential health emergencies.
The recommendations in these guidelines provide overarching, evidence-based guidance on how risk communication should be practised in an emergency. The recommendations also guide countries on building capacity for communicating risk during health emergencies."
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Updated chapter: mask use, part 1: health care settings (Annex)
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Eurohealth: COVID-19 health system governance
The importance of effective governance for determining health system performance and resilience has been emphatically highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Across Europe, governance mechanisms have provided a foundation for countries to rapidly mobilise and deploy financial and human resources to where they were most needed, to reconfigure service delivery, to implement mass test-trace-isolate-quarantine operations and to implement evidence-informed policies. Yet, in the face of unprecedented challenges, key gaps in governance for emergencies have been revealed and have undermined the effectiveness of national and international responses. A central challenge now is to learn from all of these experiences, as this evidence will be critical for building stronger health systems to support the post-pandemic recovery and for renewing and strengthening health emergency governance mechanisms to be better prepared for future emergencies.
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WHO Policy Brief: Gatherings in the context of COVID-19, 19 January 2023
Gatherings are events characterized by the concentration of people at a specific location for a specific purpose over a set period of time and can be associated with risk of amplification of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
The aim of this policy brief is to present WHO’s position on, and guidance in relation to, holding gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The information is derived from WHO publications and on a review of evidence extracted from the scientific literature.
It is vital for gatherings to be well managed, regardless of their size, type and level of associated risk. Nonetheless, even when precautionary measures are properly applied, zero risk does not exist. The application of additional precautionary measures, postponing or cancelling events of any size should always be considered following a risk assessment whose conclusions indicate that associated risks outweigh the benefits of an event. The principles of the risk-based approach are valid for gatherings of all sizes, types and characteristics and for all organizers and participants.
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Guidance for national tuberculosis programmes on the management of tuberculosis in children, 2nd ed
Since 2006 there has been a welcome increase in the attention being given to the specific challenges of TB in children and an increased recognition of its importance as a global public health challenge. Although most children with TB may not be responsible for widespread transmission of the disease in the community, TB is an important contributor to maternal and child morbidity and mortality.
The first edition of Guidance for national tuberculosis programmes on the management of tuberculosis in children was published in 2006. It resulted in the revision or development of guidelines for child TB management by national TB programmes in many TB-endemic countries. Now, however, newly published evidence and new recommendations have made it necessary to update the original 2006 guidance.
Like the original, this second edition aims to inform the revision of existing national guidelines and standards for managing TB, many of which include guidance on children. It includes recommendations, based on the best available evidence, for improving the management of children with TB and of children living in families with TB. National and regional TB control programmes may wish to adapt these recommendations according to local circumstances.
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Health system considerations: when influenza meets COVID-19: preparedness and response measures when COVID-19, influenza and acute respiratory infections coincide in the WHO European Region, revised version December 2020
Preparedness and response measures when COVID-19, influenza and acute respiratory infections coincide in the WHO European Region. At the time of writing, there has been a resurgence of cases in many countries, especially as restrictive public health and social measures (PHSM) were eased to help restart economic and societal activity. This upsurge in cases is a cause for concern and countries in the WHO European Region have started re-implementing restrictions. But as COVID-19 will continue into the autumn and winter, the impending threat of seasonal influenza, influenza-like infections (ILIs) and pneumonia in the northern hemisphere will further challenge already overstretched health systems, raising new issues in managing the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and resulting COVID-19. These challenges are expected to continue until effective vaccines and antiviral treatments become available.
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Meningitis outbreak response in sub-Saharan Africa: WHO guideline
The meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa runs across the continent from Senegal to Ethiopia. This region is prone to major epidemics of meningococcal meningitis, with a high case fatality and serious sequelae that place a heavy strain on national and local health services. Until recently, most epidemics were due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A (NmA), such that the existing WHO guidelines have been directed mainly at the control of these epidemics. However, since 2010, countries in the meningitis belt have started to introduce a new serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenAfriVac) that is expected to confer both long-lasting individual protection and herd immunity. Following the successful roll-out of this vaccine, epidemics due to NmA are disappearing, but other meningococcal serogroups (e.g. NmW, NmX and NmC) still cause epidemics, albeit at a lower frequency and of a smaller size. Due to these changes in the epidemiological pattern of meningitis, WHO set up a Guideline Development Group to review the evidence and recommendations for epidemic control in the meningitis belt. Four main topics were selected for review: operational thresholds for investigation and response to outbreaks, rapid diagnostic tests in outbreak management, antibiotic regimens in epidemics, and prophylaxis for household contacts of cases. This guideline does not include recommendations on vaccines that are already covered in existing WHO guidance. The evidence was collected either through systematic searches for surveillance data (for questions on operational thresholds and antibiotic regimens) or through systematic literature reviews (for questions on rapid diagnostic tests and prophylaxis for households). The quality of the evidence was assessed – using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) – as “low” or “very low” for most questions. To move from evidence to recommendations, the framework from the “Developing and Evaluating Communication Strategies to Support Informed Decisions and Practice Based on Evidence” (DECIDE) project was followed, to assess the priority of the problem, quality of evidence, benefits and harms, values and preferences, resource use, equity, acceptability and feasibility before reaching a recommendation. Of the 16 recommendations developed (listed below), four were “strong” recommendations that were made in favour of an intervention, where potential benefits clearly outweighed any potential harms; the remaining 12 recommendations were “conditional”.
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Updated recommendations on service delivery for the treatment and care of people living with HIV
"These guidelines provide new and updated recommendations and good practice statements in the following areas: starting ART, including initiating treatment outside the clinic and support for same-day ART start; frequency of clinical visits and ART refills; measuring adherence; tracing and re-engagement in care for all populations; psychosocial support for adolescents living with HIV; task sharing for diagnostic services; and service integration.
This guideline seeks to provide support to Member States, programme managers, health workers and other stakeholders seeking to achieve national and international goals to end the HIV epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
WHO is currently in the process of collating all HIV normative guidance developed since 2016 in order to publish the third edition of the consolidated HIV guidelines in July 2021. This updated version will include the new service delivery guidance presented here."
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COVID-19: operationalization of the global response strategy in the WHO European Region
This document outlines the WHO European Regional strategy to respond to COVID-19 and its consequences, based on WHO’s global strategy update for COVID-19, covering the period February - December 2020. The estimated funding needs of the WHO European Region, for this period, amount to US$ 175 million. This strategic document is relevant to the diverse contexts that exist across the WHO European Region, and to countries implementing a wide range of national and subnational responses. The strategy is flexible and adaptable to national and subnational contexts and guides countries in rapidly bringing COVID-19 cases under control, and in preparing for a phased transition from a widespread transmission to a steady state of low-level or no transmission.
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Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a living guideline
The Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a living guideline consolidates infection prevention and control (IPC) technical guidance developed and published during the COVID-19 pandemic into evidence-informed recommendations for IPC. This living guideline is available both online and PDF.
This version of the guidelines (version 4.0), includes the following recommendations:
1) a strong recommendation for mask use in community settings in higher risk situations;
2) a conditional recommendation to encourage a risk-based approach for mask use in community settings in situations that do not fall within the scope of the strong recommendation;
3) a good practice statement advising individuals with signs and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or those who test positive for COVID-19 to wear a medical mask when interacting with others in or outside of one’s household or sharing space with others; and
4) amendment of an existing good practice statement on the implementation of policies to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission to promote the revisiting and strengthening of PHSM as new evidence arises.
The strong and conditional recommendations for mask use in the community complement each other, outlining possible scenarios in which masks may benefit the wearer. As some situations (see strong recommendation) necessitate mask wearing for maximum protection, others (see conditional recommendation) may be better suited for a risk-based approach.
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WHO COVID-19 policy brief: building trust through risk communication and community engagement
These materials were launched on 27/07/2020 and revised in October 2020. As the scientific evidence and technical guidance regarding COVID-19 are constantly evolving, the materials in this course are outdated. This course is undergoing revision. An updated version of this course will be available. In the meantime, please refer to https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 for the latest updates.
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Safe Ramadan practices in the context of COVID-19 and Emerging Variants
This guidance makes reference to Safe Ramadan practices in the context of COVID-19. This year Ramadan falls between 2 April to 2 May 2022 as the pandemic continues into its third year. This document provides approaches for adjusting public health and social measures (PHSM) aimed to reduce transmission, as well as communication modalities designed to convey safe observance of the holiday across diverse celebrating cohorts.
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Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a living guideline, 10 August 2023
The Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a living guideline consolidates technical guidance developed and published during the COVID-19 pandemic into evidence-informed recommendations for infection prevention and control (IPC).
This living guideline is available both online and PDF. This version of the living guideline (version 5.0) includes the following seven revised statements for the prevention, identification and management of SARS-CoV-2 infections among health and care workers:
a good practice statement on national and subnational testing strategies;
a good practice statement on passive syndromic surveillance of health and care workers;
a good practice statement on prioritizing health and care workers for SARS-CoV-2 testing;
a good practice statement on protocols for reporting and managing health and care worker exposures;
a good practice statement to limit in-person work of health and care workers with active SARS-CoV-2 infections;
a statement on high-risk exposures and quarantine; and,
a conditional recommendation on the duration of isolation for health and care workers.
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WHO Guidelines on Hepatitis B and C Testing
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are major causes of acute and chronic liver disease (e.g. cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) globally, and cause an estimated 1.4 million deaths annually. It is estimated that, at present, 248 million people are living with chronic HBV infection, and that 110 million persons are HCV-antibody positive, of which 80 million have active viraemic infection. The burden of chronic HBV and HCV remains disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Asia and Africa. Additionally, even in low-prevalence areas, certain populations have high levels of HCV and HBV infection, such as persons who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men (MSM), people with HIV, as well as those belonging to certain indigenous communities.
The development of highly effective, well-tolerated oral direct acting antiviral (DAA) treatment regimens with high rates of cure after 8–12 weeks of treatment has revolutionized the treatment of chronic HCV infection, although the high prices of these new medicines remain a major barrier to access in many countries. Effective long-term antiviral treatment with tenofovir or entecavir is also available for people with chronic HBV infection. However, despite the high global burden of disease due to chronic HBV and HCV infection, and the advances and opportunities for treatment, most people infected with HBV and/ or HCV remain unaware of their infection and therefore frequently present with advanced disease and may transmit infection to others. There are several key reasons for this low rate of hepatitis testing. These include the limited facilities or services for hepatitis testing, lack of effective testing policies or national guidelines, complex diagnostic algorithms, and poor laboratory capacity and quality assurance systems.
Testing and diagnosis of hepatitis B and C infection is the gateway for access to both prevention and treatment services, and is a crucial component of an effective response to the hepatitis epidemic. Early identification of persons with chronic HBV or HCV infection enables them to receive the necessary care and treatment to prevent or delay progression of liver disease. Testing also provides an opportunity to link people to interventions to reduce transmission, through counselling on risk behaviours and provision of prevention commodities (such as sterile needles and syringes) and hepatitis B vaccination.
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WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: module 5: management of tuberculosis in children and adolescents
The Updated guidelines on Management of tuberculosis in children and adolescents include new recommendations that cover diagnostic approaches for TB, shorter treatment for children with non-severe drug-susceptible TB, a new option for the treatment of TB meningitis, the use of bedaquiline and delamanid in young children with multidrug- and rifampicin-resistant TB and decentralized and family-centred, integrated models of care for TB case detection and prevention in children and adolescents.
The desired impact of WHO normative guidance on the management of TB in children and adolescents is a reduction in the burden of TB morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents, in line with the targets included in the WHO End TB Strategy, goal 3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Political Declaration of the United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis.
The consolidated guidelines are being released as part of a modular series of WHO guidance on TB and are accompanied by a complementary operational handbook. The new recommendations are also available on the WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme’s Knowledge Sharing Platform.
This guideline update includes new recommendations that were issued at the GDG meeting in May-June 2021 as well as recommendations from other WHO guidelines that are relevant to the management of TB in children and adolescents (including those that are in the previous guidelines on the management of TB in children that have been validated)
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20th meeting of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE): virtual meeting, hosted in Copenhagen, Denmark, 11-12 November 2020
The 20th meeting of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE) took place virtually on 11 and 12 November 2020 to review and discuss immunization activities and developments in the WHO European Region and provide advice to the WHO Regional Office for Europe on appropriate activities. Advice and guidance from ETAGE were sought on the regionalization of the WHO SAGE Roadmap for prioritizing population groups for vaccines against COVID-19 based on available information and published preliminary recommendations of selected national immunization technical advisory groups (NITAG) in the Region. Guidance was also sought on regional focus areas for the European Immunization Agenda 2030 based on national priorities identified by the national immunization programmes. Planned support for NITAGs in lower- and upper middle-income countries in developing national strategies for deployment of COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination was also discussed.
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Guideline: updates on HIV and infant feeding
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Covid-19 strategy update
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Global Research and Innovation for Health Emergencies
The COVID-19 pandemic has been at the centre of WHO’s research endeavours over the past 12 months and our progress is reported in alignment with the priorities outlined in the 2022 Research and Innovation Achievements Report.
In May 2023, the WHO marked a significant milestone by officially declaring the end of the global emergency status of COVID-19. However, the shadow of COVID-19 still looms large and our work to monitor and manage this devastating disease remains vital.
In this report, we also present critical advances in research related to other significant pathogens that pose substantial threats, yet for which there are limited or no medical countermeasures available. This combined research approach (COVID-19 and beyond) is essential to defending our world.
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The COVID-19 pandemic in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
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Operational manual on indoor residual spraying: Control of vectors of malaria, Aedes-borne diseases, Chagas disease, leishmaniases and lymphatic filariasis
"Indoor residual spraying (IRS) involves applying residual insecticide to potential vector resting sites on the interior surfaces of human dwellings or other buildings. The main aim of IRS is to kill vectors before they are able to transmit pathogens to humans. When carried out correctly, IRS has historically been shown to be a powerful intervention to reduce adult vector density and longevity for mosquitoes, sand flies and triatomine bugs and can reduce the transmission of vector-borne diseases.
This operational manual is designed to provide guidance on the establishment, management, implementation, reporting and evaluation of safe and effective IRS campaigns within the context of a locally adapted and sustainable vector control programme, in line with the Global vector control response 2017–2030. It provides information according to current WHO recommendations and standards on IRS and recognizes that IRS can potentially target multiple diseases in areas where endophilic vectors coexist.
The key audience for this document is vector-borne disease control programme managers and staff, as well as implementing or private-sector partners at the national, provincial/state or local levels, who are responsible for the design, planning or implementation of vector control operations."
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COVID-19 pandemic response in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: 2020 progress report of the Incident Management Support Team
This progress report summarizes the activities and achievements of the Incident Management Support Team (IMST) in 2020 as it coordinated WHO’s regional response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Since it was established in January 2020 as the first cases of COVID-19 were being reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Region the IMST has provided strategic operational and technical support to countries of the Region. Its main roles have been coordination leadership strategic and technical guidance surveillance capacity-building logistics research and innovation to adapt to the everchanging situation. The IMST has served as a coordination platform to escalate areas of concern across the Region tailoring support to overcome challenges and address needs. Its achievements in all areas both at regional and country levels have made the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean a central player and a global asset in successfully responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Key planning recommendations for mass gatherings in the context of COVID-19, Jan 2015
"The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to host governments, health authorities and national or international event organizers on taking decisions related to holding mass gatherings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and on decreasing the risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and strain on health systems associated with such events, through dedicated precautionary measures.
The information contained in this document includes considerations for the practical planning and management of mass gatherings, as well as technical recommendations derived from WHO guidance on specific aspects; these have been consolidated and tailored to facilitate their application to the context of mass gatherings.
This is the fourth version (third update) of this interim document. First published on 14 February 2020 as Key planning recommendations for mass gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak , it has been updated on 19 March 2020 and on 29 May 2020 prior to this version. The current version of all WHO information products and publications is authoritative."
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Guidelines on HIV and infant feeding 2010: principles and recommendations for infant feeding in the context of HIV and a summary of evidence
The purpose of this Framework is to provide guidance to governments on key priority actions, related to infant and young child feeding, that cover the special circumstances associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The aim of this guidance is to create and sustain an environment that encourages appropriate feeding practices for all infants and young children, while scaling-up interventions to reduce HIV transmission.
This Framework aims to build on the links and synergies between maternal and child health and investments, economic and human, in HIV prevention and control. This will bring additional benefits for all children, The Framework’s purpose and target audience not just for those who are HIV-exposed.
The audience for this Framework includes national policy-makers, programme managers, regional advisory bodies, public health authorities, Country Coordinating Mechanisms, United Nations staff, professional bodies, nongovernmental organizations and other interested stakeholders, including the community. The current document is an update of the previous Framework, published in 2003, and has been developed in response to both evolving knowledge and requests for clarification from these key sectors. It is based on the latest HIV and infant feeding recommendations; the previous Framework no longer applies
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WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is a public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South America. It is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) - a group of diseases and conditions that affect particularly low-income populations, worldwide.
Last year, WHO launched a new road map for 2021-2030 that aims to end the suffering from NTDs by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The road map specifically targets the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem, globally.
This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations in the following areas: prevalence thresholds, target age groups and frequency of PC, establishment of WASH and snail control activities to support control and elimination of schistosomiasis, diagnostic tests for the assessment of schistosomiasis infection in animal reservoirs, in snail hosts, and in humans.
The guideline will provide support to Member States, programme managers, health workers and other stakeholders on the implementation of national schistosomiasis control and elimination programme.
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Risk communication and community engagement for COVID-19 contact tracing: interim guidance
Contact tracing is a key element of WHO’s recommended approach to control the spread of COVID-19 by breaking the chains of human-to-human transmission. By effectively embedding risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) principles in contact-tracing efforts in the context of COVID-19, compliance with contact-tracing efforts is safeguarded and transmission of COVID-19 is slowed or halted, ultimately reducing death and disease due to COVID-19 and mitigating the negative impact on health-care systems and economies. This document provides guidance to health authorities at all levels to improve the success rate of contact tracing by informing efforts with RCCE principles, evidence and activities, and provides ready-to-use tools for professionals involved in contact-tracing efforts to inform their practices with RCCE principles and likewise improve their success rate.
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Eid Al-Adha 2022 Risk Communication and Community Engagement Guidance
This risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) guidance aims to support Governments, UN partners, private sector and civil society groups to proactively address risks associated with Eid Al-Adha by implementing various RCCE interventions. Recommended interventions are categorized according to key priority groups who have been identified as either higher risk of infection (e.g. butchers at higher risk due to occupation), or because they are instrumental in applying risk-reducing measures (e.g. women who are typically responsible for household food preparation). Recommended interventions aim to increase awareness and compliance with precautionary and preventative measures, as well as support the early detection, reporting and response to cases.
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WHO guidelines for plague management: revised recommendations for the use of rapid diagnostic tests, fluoroquinolones for case management and personal protective equipment for prevention of post-mortem transmission
Plague is an acute bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis. Although effective antimicrobials are available, plague still has high mortality because most outbreaks take place in remote places, where proper diagnosis and treatment remain challenging. Early identification of the disease is crucial to ensure prompt treatment and better outcomes. Pneumonic plague is highly contagious and of particular concern because of the high risk of triggering epidemics. Thus, plague is both a medical and a public health emergency.
Three key areas selected to be addressed in this guideline: (i) the use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for diagnosing plague in different contexts; (ii) the choice of antimicrobials for treating the different forms of plague, including whether fluoroquinolones should be introduced as a first-line medicine of choice; and (iii) the use of personal protective equipment in case of exposure to the dead body of a person who was infected with plague. The Evidence Review Team conducted systematic reviews to address each of the three key areas.
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Catalogue of WHO guidance, assessment and review tools and trainings on Border Health and Points of Entry
"This catalogue is a living document providing a general overview of currently available World Health Organization (WHO) resources on Border Health & Points of Entry (PoE) which are non-hazard specific.
It will be updated on a regular basis as new guidance and tools become available.
The target audience for this catalogue are health authorities in Member States working on developing, strengthening and maintaining International Health Regulations (2005) public health capacities for border health, including at ports, airports and ground crossings. "
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https://www.who.int/europe/publications/m/item/catalogue-guidance-tools-trainings-border-health-and-points-of-entry
Readiness for influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic: policy brief
The purpose of this policy brief is to provide a concise summary of information and considerations to ensure optimal management of influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic. It addresses key issues policymakers may face, including potential co-circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2, differentiation between influenza and COVID-19 in patients and planning influenza prevention and control interventions. The document also includes links to detailed technical guidance and other resources regarding the intersection of influenza and COVID-19, including monitoring the situation, preventing seasonal influenza, reducing severe complications and mortality, protecting specific populations and communicating and engaging with the public
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One hundred million cases in one hundred week: working towards better COVID-19 outcomes in the WHO European Region
From the first COVID-19 cases in Europe reported on 24 January 2020, the pandemic reached 1 million cases within 3 months, 10 million cases within 8 months, and 100 million cases in Europe alone within 2 years. Over the course of its two years, COVID-19 has claimed over 1.6 million lives across Europe and Central Asia. The World Health Organization (WHO) European Region has accounted for close to a third of the cumulative global COVID-19 cases and deaths. In the context of the pandemic, a combination of vaccination and strong public health measures offer the clearest path to getting transmission under control. The trajectory of COVID-19 in the coming weeks, months, and year will be largely determined by the decisions and actions taken by individuals, communities and governments. With the support of Member States and partners at the global, regional, national, and community levels, WHO/Europe continues to work to reduce transmission across the European Region.
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Considerations for implementing and adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19
Public health and social measures have been implemented across the world to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission, morbidity, and mortality from COVID-19 and to prevent the overburdening of the health systems and other critical social functions.
Since the last update of this interim guidance, several significant developments have occurred, including increased global population-level immunity against SARS-CoV-2.
As the pandemic continues to evolve, PHSM should be regularly reviewed and adjusted based on ongoing situational assessments at the most local administrative level possible.
This document provides guidance to help Member States assess the severity of the COVID-19 situation and to implement PHSM at different resulting Situational Levels. This updated guidance eliminates the use of categorical transmission classifications with numeric cut-offs as a metric for adjusting PHSM. The guidance further shifts the focus of situational assessment to the dimensions of COVID-19 morbidity/mortality and health system impact (with the latter retained from the previous version). Consequently, the situational level matrix and the wording of each situational level have been updated to take into account these changes.
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Emergency Response Preparedness - IASC Task Team on Preparedness and
Resilience
This package provides practical guidance to assist Resident/humanitarian Coordinators and humanitarian country teams in preparing to respond to potential emergencies with appropriate humanitarian assistance and protection.
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Design and Conduct of Simulation Exercises (SIMEX)
This concise guideline on design and conduct of simulation exercises (SIMEX) is part of the Words into Action Guideline series on practical implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction Priority 4 component on enhancing
disaster preparedness for effective response. It targets emergency managers, relevant government officials and many other actors responsible for disaster preparedness planning and drills. It consists of three main sections: General Information on Simulation Exercise, or SIMEX; the Process; and Existing Guidance.
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After Action Reviews Materials
All WHO resources for training, planning and implementing AARs can be found here.
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How to use WHO risk assessment and mitigation checklist for mass gatherings in the context of COVID-19
This document provides a COVID-19 risk assessment and mitigation checklist for use by host countries and mass gathering organizers. It also includes an operational tool which offers guidance for organizers holding meetings during the COVID-19 outbreak and which should be accompanied by the WHO COVID-19 Generic Risk Assessment Excel file. It should be read in conjunction with WHO’s Key planning recommendations for Mass Gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak (Interim guidance).
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Considerations for school-related public health measures in the context of COVID-19
Annex to Considerations in adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19
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Considerations for mass gatherings in the context of COVID-19
The purpose of this annex is to provide key considerations to health authorities and event organizers for reopening mass gatherings (MG); it should be read in conjunction with the interim guidance.
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Practical actions in cities to strengthen preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
This document accompanies the interim guidance on “Strengthening Preparedness for COVID-19 in cities and urban settings”. It provides local authorities, leaders and policy-makers in cities with a checklist tool to ensure that key areas have been covered. An excel version that local authorities may wish to adapt to meet their needs is also available. It allows filtering by steps of action; suggested domains and responsible teams within local governments for each action; and phase(s) of the emergency management cycle.
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Guidance for Conducting a Country COVID-19 Intra-action review (IAR)
This guidance for conducting a country COVID-19 intra-action review (IAR) and the accompanying package of templates and facilitation documents have been developed by the Country Simulation Exercises and Review (CER) unit of the Health Security Department (HSP) at WHO headquarters in collaboration with WHO regional offices.
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Disaster Simulation Exercises: a how to guide for the Pacific- Government of New Zealand (2014)
This guide has been written to accompany the DVD and assist viewers in working through the five steps of the exercise cycle. Each of the six sections of this guide reiterates key points from the DVD and provides all the necessary forms and templates you will need to complete that step.
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Desktop Simulation: A user’s guidebook on building successful simulations
This guide’s purpose is to be a practical and action-oriented tool that helps your Country Office in supporting and collaborating with government emergency/management disaster structures in various countries to establishing adequate preparedness and response capacity for emergencies through planning/organizing/implementing Desktop Simulations.
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Multisectoral preparedness coordination framework
This document provides States Parties, ministries, and relevant sectors and stakeholders with an overview of the key elements for overarching, all hazard, multisectoral coordination for emergency preparedness and health security, informed by best practices, country case studies and technical input from an expert group.
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Emergency Exercise Development
These guidelines are intended to provide a wide range of information related to public health emergency management exercise development. Users should be aware that this document is not regulatory and represents guidelines only. It should not replace appropriate consultation with public health emergency management professionals. This course material has been designed for emergency exercise staff to acquire in-depth knowledge and skills related to the exercise development process, including management, control, simulation and evaluation. Emphasis is on the construction of exercise planning documents; staffing and training of team leaders in control, simulation and evaluation; the development of expected player actions and points of review; and exercise administration and logistics.
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Investing in and building longer-term health emergency preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic
This guidance supplements the COVID-19 SPRP, the strategy update and the operational planning guidelines. Its aim is to help multisectoral decision-makers and policy-makers in Member States to ‘build back better’ by undertaking the following: build on actions taken as part of their COVID-19 SPRP to improve national medium- to long-term preparedness for future all-hazards; locate relevant supporting WHO resources that are not specific to COVID-19 but can help build sustainable capacities; and advocate for the conscious and effective allocation of COVID-19 funds to meet these longer-term needs, including their obligations under the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR 2005). The guidance should also help partners and other stakeholders to support Member States in these efforts to build sustainable capacities for longer-term preparedness.
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A practical guide for developing and conducting simulation exercise to test and validate pandemic influenza preparedness plans
The purpose of this guide is to support countries in their testing and updating of their national pandemic influenza preparedness plans. It is intended to provide guidance on how to select, plan, conduct and evaluate simulation exercises specific to pandemic influenza, and how to set up a process for using the outcomes of these exercises to review and improve pandemic plans.
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Considerations for public health and social measures in the workplace in the context of COVID-19
Annex to Considerations in adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19.
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Key planning recommendations for Mass Gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to host governments, health authorities and national or international organizers of mass gatherings on containing risks of COVID-19 transmission associated with mass gathering events.
General considerations and advice applicable to the organization of mass gatherings, and addressing risks of any origin, should also be taken into account when planning an event, as highlighted in WHO’s publication Public health for mass gatherings: key considerations
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Safe Ramadan practices in the context of the COVID-19
The holy month of Ramadan (mid-April to mid-May 2021) is marked by social and religious gatherings. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to observe the holiday with caution and care. This document provides up-to-date public health advice that can be applied across different national contexts to make Ramadan-related activities safer.
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Resource mapping and impact analysis on health security investment (REMAP)
The REMAP tool helps countries meet the requirements of the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) by facilitating the mobilization of financial and technical resources for implementation of National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS) and other country plans with relevance to health security. The tool supports countries in donor coordination, identifying gaps and needs, monitoring of plan implementation, and in the linkage of different plans to increase efficiency and achieve synergies.
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Draft operational planning guidance for UN country teams
The purpose of this document is to provide a practical guide for the UNCTs and partners to develop a CPRP to immediately support national governments to prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
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WHO One Health discussion in RRT knowledge network
This video collection will guide the participants in integrating a One Health approach in the work of the Rapid Response Teams.
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WHO One Health online course (90min)
This course is free and geared to professionals from human, animal or environmental health sectors involved in the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005).
Objectives are to (i) Describe the One Health approach and principles of multisectoral collaboration; (ii) Provide examples of how a One Health approach may be taken to address a health threat or disease event; and (iii) Explain how a One Health approach contributes to a functional national health system, including national IHR implementation, evaluation, and capacity building.
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IHR-PVS National Bridging Workshop
The main objective of the NBW is to provide an opportunity to human and animal health services of hosting countries to review their current collaboration gaps in key technical areas and to develop a joint road-map of corrective measures and strategic investments to improve the work at the animal-human interface in the prevention, detection and control of zoonotic diseases.
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WHO One Health training tool-kit (33 hours)
This tool-kit of 10 items (6 learning activities and 4 case studies) aims to provide a basic understanding on both the legislative and technical components of the human-animal-environment health interface to help participants identify how they relate to the IHR and supports their effective implementation. Includes also a Reading list and a facilitator’s guide. The target audience is academia, NGO or development agencies who wish to conduct training on the One Health approach in the framework of the IHR.
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A Tripartite Guide to Addressing Zoonotic Diseases in countries (TZG)
The Tripartite Zoonoses Guide (TZG) has been jointly developed by the FAO, OIE, and WHO to support countries in taking a multisectoral, One Health approach to address zoonotic diseases. It provides principles, best practices and options to assist countries in achieving sustainable and functional collaboration at the human-animal-environment interface.
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WHO simulation exercise manual, guidance & tools
This exercise manual has been designed to meet the needs of WHO, its Member States and its partners to support and develop exercise practitioners’ competency to plan, implement and evaluate simulation exercises. The manual complements existing WHO exercise methodologies, helping ensure common understandings
and approaches across the organization. It describes how exercise teams work, and can supplement future training courses for WHO staff, ministries of health, governments, and preparedness and response partners.
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Making sense of communication interventions in public health emergencies – an evaluation framework for risk communication.
This article proposes framework for the evaluation of risk communication strategies that espouses an understanding of risk communication as an interactive, holistic, continuous and engaging activity that focuses on dialogue, intelligence gathering, and building relationships.
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Responding to global infectious disease outbreaks: lessons from SARS on the role of risk perception, communication and management
This article examines the role that risk, and especially the perception and communication of risk played in driving the economic impact of 2003 SARS outbreak.
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Outbreak communication planning guide
This document seeks to provide guidance to help national authorities apply the World Health Organization outbreak communication principles to outbreak planning and preparation activities.
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Best Practices in Public Health Risk and Crisis Communication
This article presents a checklist of best practices that should be considered for public health risk and crisis communication plans.
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What have we learned about communication inequalities during the
H1N1 pandemic: a systematic review of the literature
This literature review characterizes the scientific literature that examined issues related to communications to the public during the H1N1 pandemic.
Relevant Section:
7-11
Risk communication in the context of Zika virus
This document is an example of interim guidance for effective risk communication for Zika virus transmission and potential complications from infection.
Relevant Section:
All
Lessons of Risk Communication and Health Promotion — West Africa and United States
This article discusses the risk communication strategies used by the U.S. CDC in West Africa and the United States during the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic and concludes with a summary of the lessons learned.
Relevant Section:
All
Emergency Risk Communication: Lessons Learned from a Rapid
Review of Recent Gray Literature on Ebola, Zika, and Yellow Fever
This rapid review focuses exclusively on gray literature and seeks to identify the lessons learned from recent Ebola, Zika, and yellow fever to improve emergency risk communication.
Relevant Section:
439-443
Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (Manual): Second Edition
This guidance document introduces the principles of and practical tools for risk communication during a crisis or emergency.
Relevant Section:
Ch5,Ch7,Ch7,Ch4,Ch4,Ch6,Ch8/9
Effective Media Communication during Public Health Emergencies
This guidance describes a seven-step process to assist officials and others to communicate effectively during emergencies.
Relevant Section:
Step 3,Step 2,Step 4,Step 4,Step 5
Risk communication and community engagement readiness and response to coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
This document provides WHO checklists for risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) readiness and initial response for novel coronaviruses (nCoV) recently identified in Wuhan, China (2019-nCoV). The objective of this document is to provide actionable guidance for countries to implement effective RCCE strategies which will help protect the public’s health in the early response to nCoV. This document includes recommended RCCE goals and actions for countries preparing for nCoV cases and for countries that have confirmed -nCoV cases.
Relevant Section:
All
South East Asia regional roadmap for diagnostic preparedness, integrated laboratory networking and genomic surveillance (2023-2027)
The WHO South-East Asia Regional Roadmap for diagnostic preparedness, integratedlaboratory networking and genomic surveillance was developed to provide Member Stateswith a range of policy options for enumerating sustainable strategies to improve their nationallaboratories and prepare laboratory systems to bolster surveillance and respond moreeffectively to emerging and re-emerging diseases and other potential public healthemergencies.
Relevant Section:
All
Manual for the laboratory diagnosis and virological surveillance of influenza
Manual for the Laboratory diagnosis and virological surveillance of influenza - This manual includes a background on flu virology, epidemiology, control, and surveillance as well as a number of diagnostic test instructions and transport SOPs.
Relevant Section:
29-32, 43-115
Laboratory Quality Management System Training Toolkit
Laboratory quality management system training toolkit: overview and tips for training design.
Relevant Section:
1-34
SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (An Implementation Guide)
This guide provides an overview of the major elements that must be considered before, during and after the implementation of antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) for SARS-CoV-2. This guide is complementary to policy guidance issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). The guide may appeal to a range of audiences including Ministries of Health, donors, public and private organizations/agencies acting as implementing partners and community based and civil society organizations with experience working on health, especially organizations familiar with similar testing campaigns for other disease programs like HIV and malaria.
Relevant Section:
All
Guidelines on establishment of accreditation of health laboratories
In many countries of the World Health Organization's South-East Asia Region, laboratory accreditation, especially in the areas of medicine and health, is either not available or has not been implemented. This document provides guidelines on the facilities and personnel needed and directions on how to initiate the establishment of an accreditation process in a system. Beginning with national standards, the goal should be to achieve an internationally acceptable accreditation system. The laboratory accreditation system is important for test results to be accepted nationally and internationally.
Relevant Section:
All
Guidance for laboratories shipping specimens to WHO reference laboratories that provide confirmatory testing for COVID-19 virus
In this document, WHO outlined the instructions about the shipment mechanism to expedite and cover the costs of the shipment of clinical samples from patients with suspected COVID-19 from the country of collection to one of the WHO reference laboratories providing confirmatory molecular testing for COVID-19.
Relevant Section:
All
Public health laboratories for alert and response : a WHO guidance document
The purpose of this guidance document is to assist Member States in establishing a public health diagnostic laboratory network to support surveillance activities and enhance rapid detection and response to EID outbreaks This document describes the public health laboratory system, its core functions, and factors to consider when establishing such a system
Relevant Section:
All
Laboratory test costing tool (LTCT)
As part of its Better Labs for Better Health initiative, WHO/Europe has therefore developed a laboratory test costing tool (LTCT) as part of WHO’s range of laboratory quality management tools.The LTCT calculates the annual costs of laboratory tests based on a large number of factors, including the price of reagents, the frequency of testing, equipment amortization and maintenance charges, and personnel and facility costs. The LTCT is provided free of charge upon request to eulab@who.int.
Relevant Section:
All
Laboratory licensing: an essential part of the national laboratory regulatory framework
This document aims to provide support and offer guidance to national health authorities and national health laboratory focal points in their efforts to strengthen laboratory systems. It defines the regulatory requirements for registration, licensing, certification and/or accreditation of health laboratories, and applies to all health laboratories (public, private not-for-profit and private-for-profit). It explains the difference between certification and accreditation, and details how these can be used throughout the licensing process to implement quality requirements.
Relevant Section:
All
Basic laboratory procedures in clinical bacteriology
The present publication brings together and updates the various guidelines produced by WHO over the years on sampling of specimens for laboratory investigation, identification of bacteria, and testing of antimicrobial resistance. The information included is intended to lead to harmonization of microbiological investigations and susceptibility testing, and to improve the quality of laboratories at both central and intermediate levels. It concentrates on the procedures to be followed, rather than the basic techniques of microscopy and staining, which have been described in detail in another WHO publication.
Relevant Section:
all
Guide for National Public Health Laboratory Networking to Strengthen Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR)
This guideline presents recommendations that can be applied to multi-disease laboratory networks, with particular emphasis is placed on providing laboratory data for high priority bacterial diseases including cholera, dysentery, meningitis and plague. The purpose of the guideline is to define purposeand components of a public health laboratory network. It provides a general guidance for establishing and strengthening a national laboratory network, and to promote linkages with WHO collaborating centres, other international laboratories and specific disease program partners
Relevant Section:
All
Laboratory Capacity Requirements for International Health Regulations and Their Implementation in the WHO African Region
This document focuses on the laboratory component of IHR. It can be used in identifying approaches to develop the laboratory capacity for implementation of IHR in the WHO African Region in accordance with the specifications outlined in Annex 1A of IHR. Since IHR does not provide clear guidance on the laboratory component, this document will define specific elements for laboratory capacity requirements to facilitate the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of IHR, and also will supplement existing WHO reference documents.
Relevant Section:
All
WHO manual for organizing a national external quality assessment programme for health laboratories and other testing sites
This manual describes some of the strategic, managerial, financial, technical and scientific aspects to be considered in establishing a national EQA programme for clinical laboratories and other testing services at all health care levels. The manual has been prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to fill perceived gaps, and the scope is limited to EQA
Relevant Section:
All
Country readiness checklist for SARS-CoV-2 antigen RDT implementation
The purpose of this checklist is to identify the topics that should be considered and addressed prior to the incorporation of antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) into a national COVID-19 diagnostic strategy.
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All
Assessment tool for laboratories implementing SARS-CoV-2 testing
This tool has been designed to assess the capacity of laboratories that have implemented or intend to implement testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The tool is a shortened version of the 2012 Laboratory assessment tool that is widely used to assess national laboratory systems and the capacity of laboratories.
Relevant Section:
All
Global genomic surveillance strategy for pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential, 2022–2032
The Strategy provides a high-level unifying framework to leverage existing capacities, address barriers and strengthen the use of genomic surveillance in the detection, monitoring and response to public health threats. Genomic surveillance is part of the broader surveillance and laboratory system, and its implementation should reinforce end-to-end capacities including sample collection, diagnostics, data sharing and analysis. The strategy aims to facilitate the connectivity between different disease control programs and surveillance networks. This interoperability will strengthen the cross-cutting essential public health laboratory functions underpinning genomics holistically. The strategy articulates the overarching goal, objectives and strategic actions needed. These are dependent on commitments from countries, partners and WHO for their implementation.
Relevant Section:
All
WHO Laboratory Assessment Tool(LAT)
The Laboratory Assessment Tool offers guidance to assess laboratories and national laboratory systems. The target audience is any stakeholder performing laboratory assessments: national health authorities, multilateral agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), laboratory managers, etc. This document describes a general process for assessing laboratories and provides two questionnaires to help assess national laboratory systems (Annex 1) and individual laboratories (Annex 2). Assessors can use it as such or customize the available materials to meet local requirements or specificities and better fit the assessment context. The questionnaires are provided in PDF format that can easily be printed and as Excel files that enable automatic calculations of module indicators when answering to questions and analysis of data. In Excel format, the questionnaires are already available in four languages: English, French, Spanish and Russian. The language can be easily switched during use.
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All
Establishment of Public Health laboratories in South East Asia Region
This document will assist our Member States in their efforts to establish and strengthen public health laboratories and forge their network in pursuit of preventing and containing emerging, re-emerging and novel communicable diseases in the South-East Asia Region.
Relevant Section:
All
Genomic costing tool
The first edition of the genomics costing tool (GCT) facilitates budgeting and resource mobilization for infrastructure, workforce, biosafety and quality assurance associated with SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance. This tool will be useful to country, regional and global policymakers, health administrators and economists, laboratory directors, quality managers, donor institutions and other stakeholders engaged in genomic surveillance for priority pathogens. The GCT is a Microsoft Excel-based tool which is accompanied by a user manual to guide its users.
Relevant Section:
All
Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2
This document provides interim guidance to laboratories and other stakeholders involved in diagnostics for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It covers the main considerations for specimen collection, nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), antigen (Ag), antibody (Ab) detection and quality assurance. This document will be updated as new information becomes available. Feedback can be sent to WHElab@who.int.
Relevant Section:
All
Development of National Health Laboratory Policy and Plan
Development of National Health Laboratory Policy and Plan - Guide that provides the role of lab services in the health system and identifies essential elements of the national health lab policy and national health lab plan.
Relevant Section:
1-20
Establishment of PCR laboratory in developing countries
This manual is designed to offer a basic knowledge of the principles and utility of PCR- based assays for diagnosis of viral infections. It includes a few protocols of commercially available nucleic acid extraction kits and PCR assays, as well as the protocols of PCR assays developed, standardized and available for routine diagnosis. This manual provides primary guidelines to assist clinical and laboratory personnel in developing countries to establish a PCR diagnostic facility and expand its diagnostic profile for efficient support to patient care as well as public health actions.
Relevant Section:
All
Laboratory Quality Standards and their Implementation
Laboratory Quality Standards and their Implementation: Highlights how to develop and implement quality Laboratory standards that align with international norms and standards.
Relevant Section:
7-27, 27-28
Recommendations for national SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies and diagnostic capacities
This document describes recommendations for national testing strategies and the use of PCR and rapid antigen tests in different transmission scenarios of the COVID-19 outbreak, including how testing might be rationalized in low resource settings. All testing should be followed by a strong public health response including isolating those who test positive and providing them care, contact tracing and quarantine of contacts.
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All
Laboratory quality standards and their implementation
he Laboratory Quality Standards present a minimum set of standards that can be readily adapted by countries and applied to laboratories at every level of the health-care system. This document also outlines mechanism to implement them. This document will be of help to national policy-makers as well as regulators in developing national laboratory quality standards. It provides a simple approach to meet the minimum requirements set with the ultimate objective to comply with ISO 15189 in a logical and step-by-step manner.
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All
Laboratory biosafety manual, 4th edition
The WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual (LBM) has been in broad use at all levels of clinical and public health laboratories, and other biomedical sectors globally, serving as a de facto global standard that presents best practices and sets trends in biosafety.
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All
Supporting the development of strong laboratory leaders for global health security: the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme (GLLP)
This article highlights the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme (GLLP), a collaborative initiative of 6 global organizations to address the lack of sufficient training on leadership and management for laboratory directors and senior laboratory managers, using a One Health approach.
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All
Laboratory leadership competency framework
The purpose of the Laboratory Leadership Competency Framework is to outline the essential competencies needed for laboratory leaders to build sustainable national laboratory systems that improve disease detection, control and prevention efforts in health systems around the world.
Relevant Section:
All