Over the past decade, the landscape of respiratory viruses has evolved significantly, exemplified by the profound impact of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) Infection prevention and control (IPC) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) team is undertaking an update of the 2014 guideline titled, Infection prevention and control of epidemic-and pandemic prone acute respiratory infections in health care. Updating of this guideline will adhere to the highest international standards for guideline development, including the use of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework and the evidence to decision making process.
This guideline will be developed in collaboration with a panel of experts, termed the Guideline Development Group (GDG), which is composed of relevant technical specialists, a patient representative and ethicist.
Following a call for expert, 23 experts from various backgrounds were identified worldwide and selected to form the GDG. Complete list of the proposed participants and their biographies can be viewed here: group webpage and PDF.
To strengthen public trust and transparency in connection with WHO guideline development, we request the public to send any comments or concerns regarding the selected GDG members to WHEIPC@who.int with the subject, “Public comments on the Guideline Development Group – IPC ARI guideline” with indication of the name, nature of concern and contact details of the sender. The comments received by WHO through the public notice and comment process are treated confidentially and their receipt will be acknowledged through a generic email notification to the sender.
Comments and perceptions brought to the knowledge of WHO through this process are an integral component of WHO’s conflict of interest assessment policy and are carefully reviewed. WHO reserves the right to discuss information received through this process with the relevant expert with no attribution to the provider of such information. Upon review and assessment of the information received through this process, WHO, in its sole discretion, may take appropriate management action in accordance with its policies.
Deadline for public comment is Wednesday July 4th, 2024 24:00h CET .