Table 2.
Comparison of WHO's International Health Regulations and WOAH's Performance of Veterinary Services.
| Aspect of Comparison | International Health Regulations (IHR) | Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Human health | Animal health |
| Member States | 196 member states | 182 member countries |
| Primary focus | Human diseases and public health | Animal diseases and animal health |
| Legal basis | Legally binding treaty (IHR2005) | Non-binding international standards |
| Purpose | Prevention and response to international public health emergencies | Evaluation and improvement of national veterinary services |
| Reporting requirements | Mandatory reporting of specified diseases and events with potential international impact | Voluntary reporting of animal health data |
| Disease categories | Focus on human diseases such as pandemics, epidemics, and specific diseases of international concern | Focus on animal diseases, including notifiable terrestrial and aquatic animal diseases |
| Monitoring and evaluation | WHO conducts assessments and provides guidance on capacity-building | WOAH conducts evaluations and offers support for improving veterinary services |
| Capacity building | WHO supports member states in building capacity for disease surveillance, detection, and response | WOAH assists member countries in enhancing their veterinary infrastructure and capabilities |
| Notification time frames | Immediate notification of certain diseases or events (within 24 h) | Reporting of animal diseases and events may not have strict timeframes |
| Sanitary measures | Recommendations for travel and trade restrictions to prevent the international spread of diseases | Recommendations for sanitary measures in animal populations to control disease spread |
| Zoonotic diseases | Includes zoonotic diseases that can impact human health | Focuses on diseases that affect animals, but zoonotic diseases are indirectly addressed due to their impact on animal health and trade |
| Communication | Emphasis on international coordination and communication between member states and WHO | Emphasis on national veterinary authorities' communication with WOAH and other relevant organizations |
| Transparency | IHR provisions require transparency in disease reporting and response measures | WOAH promotes transparency in the evaluation of veterinary services and encourages member countries to share relevant information |