Many diseases constitute serious health hazards and among these are reemerging diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, and yellow fever, as well as emerging diseases like AIDS, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), “avian flu,” and H1N1 influenza.
With the increased movement of people and products, a disease can spread rapidly across the globe. The outbreak of a severe disease in one country can affect economies and livelihoods in other parts of the world. In view of this, the countries have agreed on International Health Regulations (IHR). Their objective is to help the international community prevent and respond to those acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people worldwide.
The International Health Regulations (2005) cover a broad range of public health risks that can be of international importance:
a. biological, chemical, or radionuclear hazards at their origin or source, and
b. diseases that are potentially communicable through:
people (for example, SARS, flu, poliomyelitis, Ebola).
animal products, food (including the risk of zoonosis).
vectors (for example, plague, yellow fever, West Nile fever).
the environment (for example, release of radioactive material, chemical spills, and other forms of contamination).
Areas covered by the IHR (2005)
Environment
Public health
Airports, international ports, and ground border crossings (quarantine included)
Customs
Food safety
Agriculture (including animal health)
Radiological safety
Safety of chemical products
Transport (hazardous goods included)
Meetings on, use of, and dissemination of information on public health
Public health activities by authorities or other relevant entities at the intermediate or local level
The IHR (2005) differ very significantly from the previous (1969) version, which mainly dealt with reporting cases of three diseases (cholera, plague and yellow fever) and with the application of the maximum measures specified to respond to those diseases. Today’s situation requires coordination and joint efforts by epidemiologists and experts in disaster management.