International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005
The IHR 2005 is a legally binding WHO framework that defines the rights and obligations of member states in responding to public health events with cross-border potential. It came into force for India on August 8, 2007. All 196 States Parties must maintain core capacities to detect, assess, report, and respond to disease outbreaks.
- States Parties must notify WHO of a potential PHEIC within 24 hours of identification via an IHR National Focal Point.
- A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is the highest alert level — declared by the WHO Director-General on the advice of an Emergency Committee.
- PHEIC criteria include: the event is serious, unusual, or unexpected; it carries significant risk of international spread; and it may require a coordinated international response.
- Past PHEICs include H1N1 (2009), Ebola West Africa (2014), Zika (2016), COVID-19 (2020), and Mpox (2022, 2024).
● Tracked since May 17, 2026 · last seen June 25, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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