Health Affairs August 27, 2024
On June 1, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) ushered in a new era of global health security with the adoption of the updated International Health Regulations (IHR). These regulations, a critical framework for international health law, aim for countries to better prepare and respond to public health emergencies. The IHR are a legally binding global framework designed to prevent the international spread of diseases. They mandate that countries monitor potential health threats of any kind that could have cross-border impacts and report these to the WHO. These regulations, designed to enhance international coordination and response to public health emergencies, bring several features and innovations that aim to address the shortcomings of previous frameworks.
The new IHR introduces advanced reporting...