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Guidance

International Health Regulations 2005: UK National Focal Point

UKHSA's role as National Focal Point for communication of public health events to the World Health Organization under International Health Regulations (2005).

Updates to this page

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published:
16 April 2013
Last updated:
19 September 2025
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  1. Updated the International Health Regulations 2005: UK National Focal Point communications protocol in line with changes that came into force on 19 September 2025.

  2. Updated content of 'UK Focal Point communications protocol on serious cross-border threats to health'.

  3. Updated contact phone number and email.

  4. Removed outdated reference.

  5. Updated 'International Health Regulations National Focal Point: international communications for contact tracing and other public health responses'.

  6. Removed International Health Regulations: Activity of the UK National Focal Point from 2012 to 2016.

  7. Added 'UK Focal Point communications protocol on serious cross-border threats to health' and 'International Health Regulations National Focal Point: international communications for contact tracing and other public health responses'.

  8. Added 'International Health Regulations: Activity of the UK National Focal Point from 2012 to 2016'.

  9. First published.

Documents

International Health Regulations 2005: UK National Focal Point communications protocol

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UK Focal Point communications protocol on serious cross-border threats to health

Ref: GOV-17471

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International Health Regulations National Focal Point: international communications for contact tracing and other public health responses

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Details

The International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 are an international instrument that is legally binding on all World Health Organization (WHO) member states.

The purpose and scope of the IHR 2005 is to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease. This is done in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.

Under the IHR 2005, member states designate a national focal point (NFP) to communicate with the regional WHO IHR contact point.

The UK governments, including the devolved administrations, have designated the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), formerly Public Health England (PHE), to act as the NFP for all UK territory, including England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Crown Dependencies (CDs) and the UK overseas territories (UKOTs).

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