What is it about?

Some infectious diseases — such as Ebola, MERS, or new influenza strains — can spread quickly and cause major public health emergencies. The World Health Organization (WHO) develops guidelines to help countries prepare for, detect, and respond to these high‑risk diseases. But the quality of these guidelines can vary, and strong guidance is essential when lives and health systems are at stake. In this study, we systematically evaluated the WHO guidelines for infectious diseases with the potential to cause public health emergencies. Using a standardized appraisal tool, we assessed how well these guidelines were developed, how clearly they present recommendations, and whether they are based on transparent, rigorous evidence. Our analysis showed that while many guidelines provide valuable direction, there are important differences in quality across diseases and topic areas. Some guidelines are clear and well‑structured, while others lack detail on evidence, methodology, or implementation. We also identified areas where updates or stronger processes could improve preparedness and response efforts. By examining these guidelines side by side, our study helps highlight strengths, gaps, and opportunities to ensure that global health guidance is as reliable and actionable as possible — especially for diseases that pose serious threats to public health.

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Why is it important?

This work is timely because the world continues to face emerging infectious threats, and countries rely heavily on WHO guidance during crises. High‑quality guidelines can support rapid decision‑making, strengthen preparedness, and save lives. Yet until now, there has been a limited systematic evaluation of how robust these guidelines actually are. What makes this study unique is its comprehensive appraisal of WHO guidelines across multiple priority diseases using a validated, internationally recognized assessment tool. Instead of focusing on a single outbreak or disease, we examined the broader landscape of emergency‑related guidance, offering insights into consistency, transparency, and methodological rigor. Our findings can help WHO and global health partners refine guideline development processes, prioritize updates, and ensure that recommendations are evidence‑based, practical, and globally applicable. Ultimately, this work contributes to stronger global health security and more resilient health systems.

Perspectives

This publication holds special significance for me because it brings together my interests in global health, evidence‑based practice, and methodological rigor. Evaluating WHO guidelines is both a responsibility and a privilege — these documents shape real‑world decisions during some of the most challenging moments in public health. Working with an international team on this project reinforced the importance of global guidance being transparent, consistent, and grounded in strong evidence. I hope this work encourages continued investment in high‑quality guideline development and supports countries in preparing for future health emergencies. More than anything, I hope it contributes to a global conversation about strengthening trust in public health recommendations.

Hebatullah Abdulazeem
Technical University of Munich (TUM)

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Appraisal of World Health Organization guidelines for priority infectious diseases with potential to cause public health emergencies, Public Health, March 2025, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2025.01.018.
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