Background
The Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Infectious Hazards with Pandemic and Epidemic Potential (STAG-IH) was established by the WHO Director-General in 2018 following the recommendation made by the Review Committee on the Role of the International Health Regulations (2005) in the Ebola Outbreak and Response (WHQ/69/21).
The STAG-IH provides independent advice and analysis to WHO on the infectious hazards that may pose a potential threat to global health security. As an overarching advisory group for WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) Programme, STAG-IH convenes chairs of all strategic and technical advisory groups as well as Directors of WHO Collaborating Centres related to WHE programme.
The 2023 annual meeting is planned to be held in WHO HQ (hybrid format) from 23 to 24 November 2023 and the outcome of the discussion will be published in a form of an annual report.
The proposed theme of this year is ‘New Vulnerabilities’.
Epidemics and pandemic foresight revealed several critical drivers that may fuel future outbreaks and pandemics. Among these drivers, the planned annual report highlights on increasing signals of new vulnerabilities arising from climate and biodiversity change, increased human-animal interfaces, cyber and information threats, biosecurity issues and conflicts and humanitarian crises.
The declaration of an El Niño by World Meteorological Organization in 2023 is the signal to mobilize preparations to limit the impacts on health, our ecosystem and economy . Additionally, increased human–animal interfaces impose threats by creating scope for the emergence and resurgence of many infectious diseases. STAG-IH members suggested One Health and climate change as the most preferred themes for the 2023 annual meeting according to the survey conducted in 2023. The senior management (EXD/WHE) also indicated and emphasized the importance of factoring in the implications of climate and biodiversity change on outbreaks in WHO emergency programme.
The foresight exercise to imagine the future of pandemics and epidemics (2022) proposed the following three pillars as overarching principles to strengthen future pandemic preparedness.
• Trust
• Solidarity and equity
• Sustainable development
STAG-IH recognized the critical role of communication and community engagement in building trust to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic through public and social measures. However, cyber and information threats pose significant obstacles to achieving efficient risk communication and community participation. To address these challenges, STAG-IH plans to launch a Working Group on Trust and Pandemic Preparedness in August 2023.
Furthermore, biosecurity risks, conflicts, and humanitarian disasters have been seen as significant drivers causing immensely adverse impacts on health.
In this regard, ‘New Vulnerabilities’ is suggested as a theme of 2023 STAG-IH meeting to discuss new and increasing vulnerabilities and explore mitigation strategy and effective preparedness approach. The conclusions from the STAG-IH meeting will help WHO calibrate our high priority strategy and activities to mitigate the vulnerabilities.
Objectives of the meeting
This meeting convenes STAG-IH members specifically to:
1. Provide strategic advice to WHO to address future epidemic and pandemic threats and develop effective preparedness approach:
a. Review landscape analysis and horizon scanning conducted by the Secretariat;
b. Discuss implication of the new vulnerabilities on health and explore mitigation strategies;
c. Achieve consensus on strategy and priority actions.
2. Advise WHO on strategic direction on other major issues related to epidemic and pandemic preparedness, prevention and response and collaboration.
3. Host discussion and information exchange among WHO Collaborating Centres, advisory groups and other public health leadership.
Expected outcomes
• Publication of the WHO annual report on New Vulnerabilities, based on the discussion outcome of the meeting.
• A list of priority action points for Secretariat and stakeholders.
Participants
• STAG-IH members
• Chairs of disease/topic-specific WHE technical advisory groups.
• Representatives of WHO Collaborating Centres for epidemic and pandemic diseases.
• Partners.
• UN agencies.
• Funding agencies.
• WHO participants: WHE Senior Management and Project / Disease Leads; REDs or other Regional Offices representatives; GPMB and GOARN Secretariat; STAG-IH Secretariat.
