The role of the WHO Regional Office for Europe in response to seasonal, avian, and pandemic influenza

摘要

The objective of the WHO as described in its constitution [2] is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. The WHO is the directing and coordinating authority on international health work: in emergencies, including outbreaks of infectious disease, the WHO provides appropriate technical assistance if requested to do so by governments. The WHOs responsibilities in these situations are mandated primarily by the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) [3], and this was tested to the utmost during the 2009 pandemic. The response by the WHO to the 2009 pandemic, as well as the preceding preparedness activities, has been scrutinized extensively during the external review of the IHR [4].