Should this event be notified to the World Health Organization? Reliability of the International Health Regulations notification assessment process

Validity of International Health Regulations in Reporting Emerging Infectious Diseases

“…The specificity estimate was lower than that in 2 other evaluations ( 9 , 10 ) (38% vs. 50% and 55%, respectively). Although our estimate could be a more accurate reflection of the instrument specificity, it could also be an underestimate.…”

“…This shortcoming is inherent to the method and has been noted in other studies of the IHR Annex 2 decision instrument that used expert panels ( 9 , 10 ). Every attempt was made to minimize subjectivity by giving clear written guidelines to each expert, blinding the experts to the notification outcome, preventing experts from discussing the events, and deriving agreement mathematically.…”

“…An IHR expert committee suggested regular evaluations of the notification process ( 8 ). However, the only published evaluation of the Annex 2 decision instrument is a reliability study that analyzed NFPs notification concordance ( 9 ). This study also reported a sensitivity of 80% (on the basis of 5 events) and a specificity of 50% (on the basis of 4 events).…”

World Health Organization Perspective on Implementation of International Health Regulations

“…Staff members who work in NFPs are a major audience for WHO training materials. The engagement of NFPs in the scientific evaluation of the IHR notification procedures has indicated that a high proportion of NFPs had a good understanding of the notification procedures and had accessed WHO training materials on this issue and has indicated that agreement was high in terms of events that must be notified when applying the procedures ( 9 ). NFPs have access to the contact details of all other NFPs through a password-protected website that enables direct communication among countries at the NFP level.…”

Assessment of Public Health Events through International Health Regulations, United States, 2007–2011

“…WHO is collaborating closely with its member states to meet IHR requirements for core capacities for surveillance, including the capacity to detect events of potential international public health concern and rapidly assess and report these events to WHO. Although the decision instrument allows for user judgment and experience with resultant lack in specificity ( 24 ), it can serve as an aid toward the goal of rapid and transparent reporting by states parties. By June 2012, states parties were expected to meet the minimum core capacities for surveillance and response, and development of designated air ports, sea ports, and ground crossings, unless they request a 2-year extension from WHO.…”