This updated manual provides a basic understanding of the principles of laboratory and point-of-care (POC) testing in the context of screening and diagnostic approaches, as well as antimicrobial susceptibility testing, as components of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) control. As with previous... editions, this manual covers each disease in a separate chapter which provides detailed information on specimen collection, transport and laboratory testing. Two useful annexes covering media, reagents, diagnostic tests and stains (recipes) and laboratory supplies are included at the end of the manual.
more
World Health Organization. Country Office for Timor-Leste. (2020). National strategic plan for ending TB 2020--2024. World Health Organization. Country Office for Timor-Leste.
Response to the Periodic Epidemic
This document summarizes several air quality measurement and modelling methods that can be used to estimate ground-level air pollutant concentrations and presents multiple approaches to monitoring ambient air pollution at different spatial and temporal scales. These methods are crucial for estimatin...g population exposures, which can be defined as the product of the pollutant concentration and the time over which a person is in contact with this pollutant.
more
The Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a living guideline consolidates technical guidance developed and published during the COVID-19 pandemic into evidence-informed recommendations for infection prevention and control (IPC). This living guideline... is available both online and PDF.
This version of the living guideline (version 6.0) includes fifteen statements on IPC measures in health-care settings (screening and patient placement, ventilation, physical barriers, environmental cleaning, waste management, amongst others) as well as one statement on mask fit in the community context.
more
People affected by impairments and disabilities associated with TB are even more likely to belong to marginalized segments of society and are more likely to have their human rights unprotected. The challenges faced by people affected by TB include the consequences of impairment and disability associ...ated with the disease, its treatment as well as with the stigma and discrimination applied to people affected by TB. There is now compelling evidence that the disease and its treatment affect quality of life and life expectancy even after successful treatment.
The WHO Global Tuberculosis Programme has produced the first policy brief on TB-associated disability, building on the increasing evidence in recent years on the unaddressed needs of people with TB who experience impairment and disability while on TB treatment and after completing TB treatment.
more
Building on the 2021 Interim guidance, this second version and update, incorporates the lessons and feedback from the hepatitis pilots that successfully demonstrated the feasibility of measuring hepatitis B and C impact targets to demonstrate elimination, whilst highlighting challenges caused by hig...h disease burden in some countries, as well as delays in reaching mortality targets due to the long natural history of disease progression to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
The path to elimination provides a framework with 3 levels of achievements for which WHO certification is available. Each stepwise progression from bronze to silver to gold tiers will promote an iterative expansion of prevention, diagnosis and treatment services for viral hepatitis services and strengthen measurement systems to support attainment of the 2030 elimination goals.
This updated version also includes changes, clarifications and new guidance on alternative measurement approaches for country validation of elimination. Through the validation process, WHO and partners continue to provide country support for strengthening health system capacity and patient-centred services that respect and protect the human rights of people living with viral hepatitis and ensures meaningful engagement of communities in the national, regional and global viral hepatitis response.
more
The Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a living guideline consolidates technical guidance developed and published during the COVID-19 pandemic into evidence-informed recommendations for infection prevention and control (IPC). This living guideline... is available both online and PDF.
**This version of the living guideline (version 5.0) **includes the following seven revised statements for the prevention, identification and management of SARS-CoV-2 infections among health and care workers:
a good practice statement on national and subnational testing strategies;
a good practice statement on passive syndromic surveillance of health and care workers;
a good practice statement on prioritizing health and care workers for SARS-CoV-2 testing;
a good practice statement on protocols for reporting and managing health and care worker exposures;
a good practice statement to limit in-person work of health and care workers with active SARS-CoV-2 infections;
a statement on high-risk exposures and quarantine; and,
a conditional recommendation on the duration of isolation for health and care workers.
Understanding the updated section
Prevention of infections in the health care setting includes a multi-pronged and multi-factorial approach that includes IPC and occupational health and safety measures and adherence to Public Health and Social Measures in the community by the health workforce. The underlying infection prevention and control strategy of this section is the notion that early identification of symptomatic cases, testing and quarantining/isolating health and care workers decreases the risk of nosocomial infection to patients and to other health and care workers.
more
Pathogen genomic surveillance has become a priority for public health systems in recent years. Genomic sequencing is increasingly being used to characterize pathogens and monitor important public health priorities (e.g. poliovirus, influenza virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Vibrio cholerae, ant...imicrobial resistance (AMR)). The decrease in cost and time of sequencing and the exponential development of bioinformatic pipelines have played a critical role in integrating pathogen genomics into routine public health surveillance. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the role that sequencing plays in the surveillance of infectious diseases. Sequencing facilitates earlier detection, more accurate investigation of outbreaks, closer real-time monitoring of pathogen evolution and tailored development and evaluation of interventions to inform local to global public health decision-making and action. However, there remains a need to coordinate efforts, leverage and link existing surveillance and laboratory networks and capabilities, and systematically integrate genetic sequence data (GSD) with clinical and epidemiological data to strengthen its utility.
more
Ebola disease and Marburg disease outbreaks continue to occur in Africa, with increased frequency. In addition to resulting in high mortality and morbidity, the outbreaks generate fear and mistrust about the response activities within the communities affected.
Infection prevention and control (IP...C) is a key pillar in the outbreak response; adherence to IPC practices can prevent and control transmission of infections to health and care workers, patients and their family members.
During the 2014-2016 West African Ebola disease outbreak, there was an urgent need for rapid IPC guidance to help support ministries of health, health-care providers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In response, WHO produced several documents related to the outbreak based on expert opinion, including IPC-specific documents and documents on clinical management that also referenced key IPC principles and practices. Since that time, many practices in the field have become institutionalized.
more
Due to high routine vaccination coverage, overall counts of diphtheria case have significantly declined in the Western Pacific Region recently. However, diphtheria is still prevalent in several countries and areas of the Region and remains a public health issue due to its high case fatality rate.
...
This Field Guide for Preparedness and Response to Diphtheria Outbreaks in the Western Pacific Region is a reference resource for Member States to develop national guidelines adapted to their local context. Countries may also use this Guide to facilitate outbreak preparedness and public health responses to reduce morbidity and mortality due to diphtheria.
more
Monitoramento efetivo, avaliação epidemiológica e análise subsequente são
necessários para atingir o objetivo de interromper a transmissão da FL. Este manual foi
elaborado para oferecer aos programas nacionais de eliminação da fi lariose informação de qualidade sobre metodologias e proc...edimentos para monitoramento dos TC, avaliação adequada sobre se e quando ocorreu redução da infecção a níveis em que a transmissão provavelmente não é mais sustentável, implementação de vigilância adequada após a interrupção dos TCs para estabelecer se está ocorrendo recrudescência e medidas para comprovação da ausência de transmissão. O Manual oferece orientação geral aos programas nacionais e informações relevantes sobre questões técnicas são apresentadas nos anexos. Como as circunstâncias da vida real podem não corresponder a categorias pré-defi nidas, recomenda-se que se consultem a OMS e especialistas em situações complexas.
more
The content of these guidelines goes beyond the technicalities of medical needs with additional insights into community empowerment, possible access to welfare and economic opportunities and similar issues. If these are adequately explored, the health and quality of life of people affected and their... families would be greatly restored.
more
The Leprosy Programme and Transmission Assessment (LPTA) is an activity that is carried out by internal teams towards the end of Phase 1 (see Leprosy Elimination Framework in the Annex) when a subnational jurisdiction (typically second-tier) reaches the milestone for interruption of transmission, i....e., zero autochthonous child cases for a consecutive period of five years. It also needs to be done at the end of Phase 2, when the second milestone of elimination of leprosy disease has been reached. An LPTA will be carried out to document that all relevant programme criteria have been met and examine trends of epidemiological indicators in such jurisdiction to confirm that the milestone has been achieved. The LPTA includes assessment of health facilities that provide leprosy services. LPTA comprises of review of epidemiological data, health facility assessment and data validation and verification of the programme criteria through observation during a field visit. The evidence collected in this way in subnational health administrative units is compiled in a Leprosy Elimination Dossier to be submitted to WHO when the country reaches the milestone for elimination of disease in the country as whole. Countries that have not detected any new leprosy cases in the past three years or more can use the LPTA at national level prior to or as part of the verification process. Countries likely to be among the first to apply for verification may have had no new cases detected for more than 10 years.
more
Un suivi et une évaluation efficaces sont nécessaires pour atteindre l’objectif d’élimination de la filariose lymphatique (FL). Après le traitement médicamenteux de masse (TMM) conformément aux lignes directrices élaborées par l’OMS, des programmes doivent être mis en œuvre afin de d...éterminer si les interventions ont permis de réduire la prévalence de l’infestation à un niveau en deçà duquel sa transmission ne pourra vraisemblablement pas perdurer. L’enquête d’évaluation
de la transmission (TAS) a été conçue de manière à offrir une structure simple et robuste afin de déterminer si la prévalence de la filariose lymphatique chez des enfants de 6–7 ans est inférieure à un seuil préalablement déterminé. Le TAS fournit aux administrateurs de programmes les informations factuelles nécessaires pour décider de l’opportunité d’arrêter le TMM. Le TAS garantit aux pouvoirs publics que les programmes nationaux ont atteint leur objectif d’élimination de la FL.
Ce guide a été conçu pour enseigner aux membres du personnel des programmes nationaux d’élimination de la FL, notamment le personnel de santé aux niveaux régional et de district, les éléments essentiels des programmes nationaux de suivi et d’évaluation pour l’élimination de la FL. Le guide est axé sur la planification et la mise en œuvre du TAS afin de pouvoir décider de l’opportunité
d’interrompre le TMM et de commencer la surveillance post-TMM.
more
The Pandemic Influenza Pandemic (PIP) Framework's Partnership Contribution (PC) High-Level Implementation Plan III (HLIP III) outlines the strategy for strengthening global pandemic influenza preparedness from 2024 to 2030. HLIP III takes into consideration the lessons learned from the response to t...he COVID-19 pandemic, the gains made over time, including from previous HLIPs, and the broader programmatic and policy context in order to address gaps in pandemic influenza preparedness. Implementation of HLIP III will strengthen global, regional, and country-level pandemic influenza preparedness.
more
El presente documento contiene directrices provisionales sobre la utilización de mascarillas en comunidades que han notificado la aparición de brotes causados por el nuevo coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Está dirigido a profesionales, coordinadores sanitarios, trabajadores sanitarios y... agentes de salud comunitaria que trabajen en la prevención y el tratamiento de las infecciones o en la esfera de la salud pública. El texto se irá revisando a medida que se disponga de más datos.
more
Las mejores prácticas de agua, saneamiento e higiene, en particular el lavado de manos con jabón y agua limpia, deben aplicarse y mantenerse estrictamente, ya que constituyen una barrera adicional importante para la transmisión de COVID-19 y para la transmisión de enfermedades infecciosas en gen...eral (OMS, 2002).
more
The Influenza Transmission Zones are geographical groups of countries, areas or territories with similar influenza transmission patterns. Below is a map showing the borders of the Influenza Transmission Zones as well as the list of countries, areas or territories by zone.