Avamprogetto (inglese)

WHA58.3 Annex 2

EXAMPLES FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE DECISION INSTRUMENT FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND NOTIFICATION OF EVENTS THAT MAY CONSTITUTE A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN The examples appearing in this Annex are not binding and are for indicative guidance purposes to assist in the interpretation of the decision instrument criteria. DOES THE EVENT MEET AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA?

I. Is the public health impact of the event serious?

1. Is the number of cases and/or number of deaths for this type of event large for the

given place, time or population?

2. Has the event the potential to have a high public health impact?

THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT:

9 Event caused by a pathogen with high potential to cause epidemic (infectiousness of the agent, high case fatality, multiple transmission routes or healthy carrier).

9 Indication of treatment failure (new or emerging antibiotic resistance, vaccine failure, antidote resistance or failure).

9 Event represents a significant public health risk even if no or very few human cases have yet been identified.

9 Cases reported among health staff.

9 The population at risk is especially vulnerable (refugees, low level of immunization, children, elderly, low immunity, undernourished, etc.).

9 Concomitant factors that may hinder or delay the public health response (natural catastrophes, armed conflicts, unfavourable weather conditions, multiple foci in the State Party).

9 Event in an area with high population density.

9 Spread of toxic, infectious or otherwise hazardous materials that may be occurring naturally or otherwise that has contaminated or has the potential to contaminate a population and/or a large geographical area.

3. Is external assistance needed to detect, investigate, respond and control the current event, or prevent new cases?

THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF WHEN ASSISTANCE MAY BE REQUIRED:

9 Inadequate human, financial, material or technical resources – in particular:

– Insufficient laboratory or epidemiological capacity to investigate the event (equipment, personnel, financial resources)

– Insufficient antidotes, drugs and/or vaccine and/or protective equipment, decontamination equipment, or supportive equipment to cover estimated needs

– Existing surveillance system is inadequate to detect new cases in a timely manner.

IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT OF THE EVENT SERIOUS? Answer “yes” if you have answered “yes” to questions 1, 2 or 3 above.