What is the WHO Red List?

The WHO Red List is a compilation of significant public health threats identified by the WHO. It includes diseases, pathogens, and health risks requiring urgent attention due to their potential to cause widespread illness, death, and disruption. This list guides governments, health organizations, and researchers to prioritize these threats and formulate appropriate responses.

Criteria for Inclusion Inclusion on the WHO Red List is based on several criteria:

• Public Health Impact: Potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality.
• Risk of Spread: Likelihood of spreading across borders and causing outbreaks.
• Current Knowledge Gaps: Areas needing more research and understanding for effective interventions.
• Available Countermeasures: Presence or absence of effective prevention, detection, and treatment options.
• Economic and Social Impact: Potential for significant economic disruption and social upheaval.

Key Inclusions Some notable inclusions on the WHO Red List are:

• Pandemic Influenza: Due to its rapid global spread and high mortality rates.
• Emerging Infectious Diseases: Such as SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Ebola, and Zika, posing significant risks due to their novel nature and potential for widespread outbreaks.
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Increasing resistance of pathogens to medications, complicating treatment.
• Vector-Borne Diseases: Diseases like malaria and dengue, transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, affecting millions annually.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers, leading causes of death globally.

Implications for Travel The inclusion of countries on the WHO Red List has profound travel implications, affecting travel advisories, entry requirements, and overall travel safety. Here's how it impacts travel, with a focus on the United Kingdom and other countries:

General Travel Implications

1. Travel Advisories: Countries on the WHO Red List often face stricter travel advisories. Travelers may be warned against non-essential travel to these regions due to health risks.
2. Health Screenings: Increased health screenings at entry and exit points for travelers from Red List countries to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
3. Quarantine Measures: Travelers from Red List countries might be subject to mandatory quarantine upon arrival in other countries.
4. Vaccination Requirements: Proof of vaccination against specific diseases might be required for travelers from or to Red List countries.
5. Flight Restrictions: Airlines may reduce or suspend flights to Red List countries during severe outbreaks.

Implications for the United Kingdom

1. Entry Restrictions: The United Kingdom may impose entry restrictions on travelers from Red List countries to prevent the introduction of high-risk pathogens.
2. Quarantine Protocols: Mandatory quarantine for travelers arriving from Red List countries, often in designated facilities.
3. Health Declarations: Travelers may need to provide health declarations and undergo health checks before entry.
4. Travel Bans: During severe outbreaks, the United Kingdom might impose temporary travel bans on certain countries.
5. Public Health Advice: Enhanced public health advice for travelers returning from Red List countries, including monitoring for symptoms and seeking medical advice if needed.

Implications for Other Countries

1. Regional Travel Restrictions: Neighboring countries might impose stricter border controls and travel restrictions to limit the spread of diseases from Red List countries.
2. International Collaboration: Increased collaboration among countries for information sharing and coordinated response efforts.
3. Health Infrastructure: Countries may strengthen their health infrastructure and preparedness plans to handle potential outbreaks from Red List countries.
4. Tourism Impact: Tourism industries may suffer significant impacts due to reduced travel to and from Red List countries, affecting local economies.

Countries on the WHO Red List As of the most recent update, the WHO Red List includes countries facing significant health threats due to various diseases and conditions. Some of the countries currently on the list are:

1. India: High prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and vector-borne diseases.
2. Brazil: Ongoing concerns with Zika virus and dengue fever outbreaks.
3. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Frequent Ebola outbreaks and other infectious diseases.
4. Nigeria: Endemic malaria and recent cholera outbreaks.
5. Pakistan: High rates of tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistance.
6. South Sudan: Ongoing cholera outbreaks and other infectious diseases.
7. Yemen: Severe cholera outbreaks due to ongoing conflict and poor sanitation.
8. Afghanistan: High rates of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases exacerbated by conflict.

The United Kingdom has placed no fewer than 54 countries including Nigeria on the red list of countries that should not be considered for recruitment by health and social care employers. This was announced in accordance with the revised code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England. The revised code recommended that employers, recruitment organizations, agencies, collaborations, and contracting bodies check the red country list for updates before any recruitment drive.

The countries placed on the red list of ‘No active recruitment’ are Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia.

This listing has further made it difficult for Nigerians and a few other African countries especially health workers seeking employment in the United Kingdom even after meeting the essential criteria.