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International Health Regulations

Photo: Dee Grimm. Emergency Management Professionals training on disaster preparedness and emergency management planning

The International Health Regulations (IHR) constitute an international legal instrument that is binding on 194 countries across the globe, including all WHO Member States. The revised IHR (2005), which entered into force on 15 June 2007, provide the legal framework to “prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.”

In the globalized world, diseases can spread far and wide via international travel and trade. A health crisis in one country can affect livelihoods and economies in many parts of the world. Such crises can result from emerging infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or a new human influenza pandemic. The IHR can also apply to other public health emergencies such as chemical spills, leaks and dumping or nuclear accidents. The IHR are intended to help the international community prevent and respond to acute public health risks, while limiting interference with international traffic and trade.