From three diseases to all public health threatsFrom preset measures to adapted responseFrom control of borders to, also, containment at source

What’s new?

USES OF IHR1.It is the key global instrument for protection against the international spread of diseases.

2. Encourages the nations to establish effective surveillance and build capacity at various levels.

3.Ensures prompt notification of events that may constitute public health emergency of international concern, to WHO within 24 hrs.

4. Provides appropriate public health emergency response.

INTERNATIONAL VACCINE REQUIREMENTS

1.SMALLPOXa. The eradication of smallpox was confirmed by WHO nearly 30 years ago.b. Its vaccination is no longer is indicated and may be dangerous to those who are vaccinated and those in close contact with them.

2. PLAGUEa.Vaccination against plague shall not be required as a condition of admission of any person to a territory.b. For the purpose of these regulations the incubation period of plague is 6 days.

3. CHOLERA

a. Vaccination against cholera cannot prevent the introduction of the infection into a country.b. The World Health Assembly amended the International Health Regulations in 1973 so that cholera vaccination should no longer be required of any traveller.c. The traditional parenteral cholera vaccination conveys incomplete, unreliable protection of short duration and its use is, therefore , not recommended.

4.YELLOW FEVERa. Yellow fever is an epidemic viral disease of human transmitted from infected to susceptible persons by aedes aegypti mosquito.

b. According to IHR , the incubation period of yellow fever is 6 days.

c. Yelllow fever vaccination certificate is now the only certificate that should be required in international travel, and that only for a limited number of travellers.

d. The period of validity of an international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is 10 years, beginning 10days after vaccination.

NATIONAL FOCAL POINTS(NFP)National IHR Focal Point” means the national centre, designated by each State Party, which shall be accessible at all times for communications with WHO IHR Contact Points. In each country, the national IHR focal point has been established. In india, national institute of communicable disease(NICD)has been identified as national IHR focal point. Toll free telephone no. 1075 is setup to encourage lay reporting to health authorities for recognition and response to an unusual event or outbreak.

Core Capacity Requirements For Surveillance and Response

1.At the local communitylevel and on on public health response level:

Capacities-a.To detect events involving disease or deaths above expected levels for the particular time and place in all areas within territory of state.b. To report all available information to appropriate levels of health care.c. To implement preliminary control measure.

2. At the intermediate public health Response levels:

Capacities-

a. To confirm the status of reported events and to support and implement additional control measure.

b. To assess reported events immediately and if found urgent , to report all essential information to national level. The criteria for urgent events include serious public health impact and/or unusual or unexpected nature with high potential for spread.

3. At National level- Assessment and Notification:

Capacities-

a.Process all report of urgent events within 48 hours, andb.To notify WHO immediately through the national IHR focal point.

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