Tag: website

INFOSAN Quarterly Summary, 2020 #1

Food safety incidents

During the first quarter of 2020, the INFOSAN Secretariat was involved in 38 food safety incidents involving 109 WHO Member States and 9 territories of WHO Member States. There were 25 incidents involving a biological hazard (Salmonella spp. [8], Listeria monocytogenes [5], Norovirus [3] Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli [2], Clostridium botulinum [2] Bacillus cereus [2], Cronobacter spp. [1], Shigella sonnei [1], unspecified biological hazard [1]), 6 involving an undeclared allergen (milk [3], peanut (1), egg [1], gluten [1]), 5 involving a physical hazard (undetermined foreign matter [2], glass [1], metal [1], plastic [1]), one involving a chemical/toxin hazard (histamine), and one linked to an unspecified hazard.

The food categories that were most commonly involved in the 38 incidents during the first quarter of 2020 involved fish and other seafood (8), herbs and spices (4), legumes and pulses (4), milk and dairy products (3), nuts and oilseeds (3), snacks, desserts and other foods (3), cereals and cereal-based products (2), composite food (2), fruit and fruit products (2), meat and meat products (2), vegetables and vegetable products (2), products of special nutritional use (1), and food for infants and small children (1). One incident involved an unknown food source.

During such international food safety incidents, the INFOSAN Secretariat relies on the swift action of national INFOSAN Emergency Contact Points to respond to requests for information. Rapid sharing of information through INFOSAN enables members to implement appropriate risk management measures to prevent illness in their respective countries.

Geographic scope

The outlined incidents involved Member States from all WHO regions: Europe (39), followed by the Americas (24), Africa (24), the Western Pacific (18), the Eastern Mediterranean (8) and South-East Asia (6).

Recall in several countries of frozen spring roll sheets from Singapore due to the presence of an undeclared allergen

In February 2020, the INFOSAN Secretariat was notified by the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and INFOSAN colleagues in Australia of a recall in Australia and several European countries of frozen spring roll sheets due to the detection of an undeclared allergen (milk), imported from Singapore. In collaboration with RASFF, the INFOSAN Secretariat was informed that the implicated frozen spring roll sheets were distributed internationally to 46 Member States from four WHO regions and 4 territories in Europe and the Western Pacific. Moreover, through engagement with the INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point (ECP) in Singapore, the INFOSAN Secretariat also received details of further distribution of implicated products to additional WHO Member States from all WHO regions, taking the total number of Member States involved to 65. It was also reported that the products involved had been redistributed by some countries to Europe, the Americas and Africa. Consequently, several countries recalled the implicated products to relabel them and investigated the issue to identify illnesses related to the consumption of the implicated frozen spring roll sheets. No illnesses were reported to the INFOSAN Secretariat.

This incident has highlighted undeclared allergens as an important category of hazards that can result in a largescale international response to implement risk management measures and prevent illness. In addition, it exemplified efficient communication among INFOSAN members and the Secretariat.

Outbreak of Listeriosis in the United States of America linked to enoki mushrooms imported from the Republic of Korea

In March 2020, the INFOSAN Secretariat was made aware by the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of an outbreak of Listeriosis in the US linked to the consumption of enoki mushrooms, imported from the Republic of Korea. In total, 36 cases including 4 deaths have been reported in the US. Following investigations in Canada, carried out in collaboration with the US, the INFOSAN Secretariat was informed of 6 cases of Listeriosis between 2017 and 2019 in Canada potentially related by whole genome sequencing (WGS) to the ongoing outbreak in the USA. In addition, food isolates (from enoki mushrooms from the Republic of Korea) genetically associated with the cluster of cases have been collected in 2019 by authorities in Canada. The WGS information pertaining to the cases and food isolates were shared on the INFOSAN Community Website to assist the identification of cases in other countries.

The INFOSAN Secretariat engaged the INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point (ECP) in the Republic of Korea to seek details on any further international distribution of the implicated enoki mushrooms. Investigations are ongoing.

News & activities

Food Sector and the COVID-19 outbreak

On 31 December 2019, WHO was alerted to several cases of pneumonia of unknown origin in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The virus, a previously unknown coronavirus has been named SARS-CoV-2 and is the cause of the COVID-19 disease.

The WHO Epidemic Information Network (EPI-WIN) aims to share information tailored to specific sectors, including food and agriculture. The INFOSAN Secretariat has recently developed a guidance document for food businesses with regards to COVID-19 and food safety which is now available online. The guidance has also been disseminated through EPI-WIN and presented during two webinars.

Call for applicants: INFOSAN Train-the-Trainer Workshop

In February, the INFOSAN Secretariat issued a call for applications for the INFOSAN Train-the-Trainer workshop. With the constant growth of the network, and the increased need for training that this entails, the INFOSAN Secretariat, in collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), has announced this workshop which aims to increase the human resources available to train INFOSAN members on a range of INFOSAN-related topics, online or in-person. As a result, it is expected that the understanding of the roles and responsibilities of INFOSAN members will be improved, resulting in greater participation that will enhance speed and efficiency during the response to food safety emergencies at the global level. The INFOSAN Secretariat, together with CFIA, look forward to hosting this important workshop later this year.

Developing the new INFOSAN Community Website

The INFOSAN Community Website (ICW) continues to be an effective tool for the network to disseminate information during food safety emergencies. Over the past year, through the INFOSAN member survey, the Secretariat has gained a better understanding of how members use the ICW and how it can be improved to enhance information sharing. The information collected, together with the experience of members of the Secretariat, has provided numerous innovative ideas to guide the development of the new ICW. The Secretariat is pleased to announce that the competitive process to select the vendor that will develop the new INFOSAN Community Website has concluded and the work on the creation of the new ICW has begun.

Voice of an active network member

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May 9, 2020
Medical Product Alert N°4/2020
This Medical Product Alert relates to a number of confirmed falsified chloroquine products circulating in the WHO region of Africa. Please note that this Medical Product Alert n°4/2020 will be updated as new reports of falsified chloroquine are received and validated by WHO.

Between 31 March and 2 April 2020, the WHO global surveillance and monitoring system on substandard and falsified (SF) medical products received nine reports of confirmed falsified chloroquine products from three countries. All reported products were identified at patient level and all have been confirmed as falsified.

This WHO medical product alert N°4/2020 refers to nine different falsified chloroquine products, with different presentations (see Table 1). It is important to note that widespread vigilance is required from all countries, regardless of where the product was originally identified.

Table 1: List of identified falsified chloroquine products, subject of WHO Alert N°4/2020

All the products listed in Table 1 are confirmed as falsified, on the basis that they deliberately/fraudulently misrepresent their identity, composition or source. Indeed, it can be noted that:
- either: the products do not contain the correct amount of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, based on the results of preliminary or full compendial analysis;
- and/or: the products were not produced by the manufacturer whose name is stated on the product labels, and the variable data (batch number and dates) of the above products do not correspond to genuine manufacturing records;
- and/or: the manufacturer whose name is stated on the product labels does not exist.
Chloroquine phosphate or sulfate is referenced on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for the treatment of Plasmodium vivax infection (malaria). Large clinical trials are under way to generate the robust data needed to establish the efficacy and safety of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19. These medicines are currently authorized for malaria and certain autoimmune diseases and it is important that patients do not face shortages caused by stockpiling or use outside the authorized indications.
Both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine can have serious side effects, especially at high doses or when combined with other medicines.

The SOLIDARITY trial, led by WHO, is reviewing potential treatments for COVID-19. Please refer to WHO medical product alert n°3/2020 for general information on falsified medical products in relation to the management
of COVID-19.

For photographs of products listed in Table 1, please refer to the WHO Medical Product Alert website, and
to the annex of this medical product alert n°4/2020 (see pages 3-7).

WHO requests increased vigilance within the supply chains of countries likely to be affected by these falsified products. Increased vigilance should include hospitals, clinics, health centres, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies and any other suppliers of medical products.

If you are in possession of the above products, please do not use. If you have used these falsified products, or if you suffer an adverse reaction/event having used these products, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional, and to report the incident to the National Regulatory Authorities/National Pharmacovigilance Centre.

All medical products must be obtained from licensed, authentic and reliable sources. Their authenticity and condition should be carefully checked. Seek advice from a healthcare professional in case of doubt.

National regulatory/health authorities are advised to immediately notify WHO if these falsified products are discovered in their country. If you have any information concerning the manufacture, distribution, or supply of these products, please contact: rapidalert@who.int.

WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for Substandard and Falsified Medical Products
For more information, please visit: www.who.int/medicines/regulation/ssffc/en/

Annex: Photographs of falsified chloroquine products circulating in the WHO region of Africa, Medical Product Alert N°4/2020

CAMEROON

Photographs of confirmed falsified Chloroquine Phosphate (100mg)

Photographs of confirmed falsified Chloroquine Phosphate (250mg)

Photographs of confirmed falsified Chloroquine Phosphate 250mg

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Photographs of confirmed falsified CLOROQUINE 250MG

Photographs of confirmed falsified Chloroquine Phosphate 250mg

NIGER

Photographs of confirmed falsified Samquine 100 (100mg)

Photographs of confirmed falsified Chloroquine phosphate tablets B.P 100mg

Photographs of confirmed falsified Niruquine (100mg)

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April 10, 2020
WHO public consultation on draft Target Product Profiles for Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major yet preventable global health problem, with an estimated 10 million new cases worldwide in 2018, resulting in more than 1.5 million deaths, making it the leading infectious disease cause of death worldwide. An estimated one fourth of the world’s population is infected with the TB bacterium, of whom 5–10% advance to active TB disease in their lifetime.

Prevention of TB is a crucial component of the World Health Organization (WHO) End TB Strategy that calls for 90% coverage of TB preventive treatment (TPT) among persons living with HIV (PLHIV) and household contacts of infectious TB cases by 2035. The UN high-level meeting on TB, in September 2018, further emphasized the need to strengthen implementation of TPT and called for 30 million people, including 4 million children under 5 years of age to receive TPT by 2022.

However, uptake and scale-up of TPT have been slow, mainly due to the limitations of both diagnostic assays and available regimens (long duration, cost, toxicity, adherence issues, and operational aspects), indicating the need for new short, safe, efficacious and easy-to-take regimens for the treatment of TB infection and prevention of TB disease. The WHO has developed draft Target Product Profiles (TPPs) for TPT to align developers’ performance and operational targets for new TPT regimens with the needs of end-users.

The draft TPPs are now available online for comment.

WHO invites comments or feedback from all stakeholders by 27 April 2020 via this link:
- Access the form here
Based on the comments received on this draft, WHO will prepare the final non-draft TPP (version 1.0), which will be posted on WHO’s website and uploaded into the (WHO) Product Profile Directory by October 2020.

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https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/31-03-2020-who-public-consultation-on-draft-target-product-profiles-for-tuberculosis-preventive-treatment

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April 10, 2020
22 Ways to Create Compelling Content When You Don’t Have a Clue [Infographic]

Visualize your way to new and relevant content! This infographic, based on blogger, Danny Iny’s, 21 Ways to Create Compelling Content When You Don’t Have a Clue, highlights great tips on creating and recycling content for your website or blog.

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April 9, 2020
Using LinkedIn for Lead Generation

LinkedIn is knowledgeable social networking website that enables folks to develop their community, make enterprise connections, study job alternatives and discover potential job candidates.

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April 4, 2020
SEO Techniques: Link Building

As of proper now, backlinks are a very powerful issue with regards to the major search engines deciding the place to rank your web site. In the longer term that will change, however there isn’t any doubt that backlinks will nonetheless proceed to be an necessary issue within the rating course of. Because of this reality, it can be crucial that you just steadily construct hyperlinks main again to your web site. In this submit we’ll discuss a couple of efficient methods to perform this together with creating Link Bait, Blogging, Press Releases and Article Marketing simply to call a couple of. But, we gained?t simply let you know to make use of these methods we may also let you know the right way to use them appropriately and successfully.

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April 3, 2020
WHO to accelerate action to reduce the harmful use of alcohol
The
harmful use of alcohol causes roughly Three million deaths yearly and the
general burden of illness and accidents attributable to alcohol consumption
stays unacceptably excessive. The tempo of improvement and implementation of
alcohol insurance policies has been uneven in WHO areas, and assets and capacities
for implementation of the WHO Global technique to reduce the harmful use of
alcohol 10 years after its endorsement don’t correspond to the magnitude of
the issues. On this foundation, the WHO Executive Board in its choice EB146
(14) known as for accelerated action to reduce the harmful use of
alcohol.

The Board thought of the report on the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, notably Annex 3, entitled “Implementation of the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol,” and the report on the findings of the consultative process on implementation of the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol and the way forward.

The Board, in its choice EB146 (14), requested the WHO Director-General, inter alia, “to develop an action plan (2022-2030) to effectively implement the Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority, in consultation with Member States and relevant stakeholders, for consideration by the 75th World Health Assembly through the 150th session of the WHO Executive Board in 2022”, and “to develop a technical report on the harmful use of alcohol related to cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising and promotional activities, including targeting youth and adolescents, before the 150th session of the WHO Executive Board, which could contribute to the development of the action plan”, in addition to “to adequately useful resource the work on the harmful use of alcohol.

In response to choice EB146 (14), the WHO Secretariat will implement the following:
- March– April 2020: Commissioning of the scoping evaluate on the harmful use of alcohol associated to cross-border alcohol advertising and marketing, promoting and promotional actions, together with concentrating on youth and adolescents. Commissioning background papers for the report improvement.
- April-May 2020: Producing zero draft of the working doc for improvement of an action plan (2022-2030) to successfully implement the Global technique to reduce the harmful use with proposed important parts and parts.
- June 2020: Technical professional conferences organized by WHO headquarters to talk about zero draft of the working doc for improvement of the action plan and the content material of the technical report on the harmful use of alcohol associated to cross-border alcohol advertising and marketing, promoting and promotional actions.
- July-September 2020: Finalization of the working doc for subsequent session course of. Web-based session on the working doc for improvement of the action plan open to Member States, UN organizations and different worldwide organizations, and non-State actors. All related suggestions acquired will probably be revealed on WHO web site.
- October 2020 – March 2021: Regional technical consultations with Member States on the working doc for improvement of the action plan (2022-2030).
- March– April 2021: Development of the first draft of the action plan primarily based on the enter acquired on the working doc in the course of of the regional consultations.
- April -June 2021: The web-based session on the first draft of the action plan open to Member States, UN organizations and different worldwide organizations, and non-State actors. All related suggestions acquired will probably be revealed on WHO web site. Discussion of the first draft at the Third WHO Forum on alcohol, medication and addictive behaviours attended by technical focal factors from Member States, representatives of UN entities, civil society organizations, WHO collaborating centres, and academia. Consultation with financial operators in alcohol manufacturing and commerce on their contribution to decreasing the harmful use of alcohol inside their core roles. An casual session with Member States on the first draft of the action plan.
- July-August 2021: Development of the second draft of the action plan primarily based on the suggestions acquired on the first draft throughout the earlier levels of the session course of.
- August-November 2021: Briefings on the second draft of the action plan organized at the Regional Committee conferences. Release of the technical report on the harmful use of alcohol associated to cross-border alcohol advertising and marketing, promoting and promotional actions, together with concentrating on youth and adolescents, with a abstract of fundamental findings and conclusions out there in six languages. A proper assembly of Member States for consideration of the second draft of the action plan. Finalization of the draft action plan considered suggestions and inputs acquired from Member States and different stakeholders throughout the session course of in April -October 2021. Development and submission of the report by the Secretariat to 150th session of the Executive Board.
- January/February 2022: The 150th session of the WHO Executive Board will think about the report of the WHO Director-General containing the draft action plan (2022-2030) to successfully implement the Global technique to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.
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April 3, 2020

Medical Product Alert N°3/2020

This Medical Product Alert warns consumers, healthcare professionals, and health authorities against a growing number of falsified medical products that claim to prevent, detect, treat or cure COVID-19.

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic (caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2) has increased demand for medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and reagents, all related to COVID-19, creating an opportunity for ill-intended persons to distribute falsified medical products

Due diligence is required from all actors in the procurement, use and administration of medical products, in particular those affected by the current crisis of, or related to, COVID-19.

1. FALSIFIED IN VITRO DIAGNOSTICS AND LABORATORY REAGENTS

WHO has received multiple reports regarding falsified in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and laboratory reagents for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Please refer to WHO’s Emergency Use Listing for a list of diagnostics approved for clinical use by WHO. To date, eight countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, PR China, Russian Federation, Singapore, Republic of Korea, United States of America) have listed IVDs for COVID-19 diagnosis based on expedited regulatory assessments. Please note that, in the European Union, regulatory compliance for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics are self-declared by the manufacturer.

To assist Member States and stakeholders, WHO has published the links to these emergency lists, together with contact details. These links provide information on IVDs authorized for use in the jurisdictions of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum, as well as policies and guidance. WHO will provide updated versions as new information becomes available.

End-users are encouraged to check the labelling against the information posted by regulatory authorities upon listing to ensure they are in possession of the genuine product. This information might include product name, product code, expiry date, instructions for use and manufacturer details.

Unregulated websites supplying medicines and/or vaccines, particularly those concealing their physical address or landline telephone number, are frequently the source of unlicensed, substandard and falsified medical products. WHO has been made aware of various unregistered websites claiming that products on sale can treat or prevent COVID-19. Such products are likely to be falsified medicines. In addition, some websites may appear to provide easy access to legitimate medicines that are otherwise not readily available. End-buyers and consumers should be especially wary of such online scams and exert due diligence when purchasing any medical product, whether online or not.

2. FALSIFIED MEDICINES AND VACCINES

At this stage, WHO does not recommend any medicines to treat or cure COVID-19. However, the SOLIDARITY trial, led by WHO, is reviewing potential treatments for COVID-19.

WHO requests increased vigilance from national health authorities, healthcare professionals, members of the public and supply chain stakeholders worldwide to prevent the distribution of these falsified medical products. Increased vigilance should focus on hospitals, clinics, health centres, clinical laboratories, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies and any other suppliers of medical products. All medical products must be obtained from authentic and reliable sources. Their authenticity and condition of the product should be carefully checked. Consumers are advised to seek advice from a healthcare professional in case of doubt.

National health authorities are requested to immediately notify WHO if these falsified products are discovered in their country. If you have any information concerning the manufacture, distribution, or supply of these products, please contact rapidalert@who.int

WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for Substandard and Falsified Medical Products
For further information, please visit our website: https://www.who.int/medicines/regulation/ssffc/en/

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https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/31-03-2020-medical-product-alert-n-3-2020

April 2, 2020

Copyright Infringement

Question: Can I really get in trouble for posting that cute little poem on our website?

Answer: You may have incurred significant liabilities if that “cute little poem” is copyrighted!

No one thinks about sharing poems or stories in newsletters or on websites. Sending an email with some witty or poignant information is easy and very common. How could anything so innocent cost you money?

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April 1, 2020
Email Marketing Metrics

Email marketing is one of the best online marketing strategies around, and is a great way to drive highly targeted traffic to your website. This online marketing technique routinely provides some of the highest ROI figures in the online advertising industry, making it appealing to just about every type of…

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April 1, 2020

Tag: website

Geographic scope

News & activities

Voice of an active network member

Annex: Photographs of falsified chloroquine products circulating in the WHO region of Africa, Medical Product Alert N°4/2020

This Medical Product Alert warns consumers, healthcare professionals, and health authorities against a growing number of falsified medical products that claim to prevent, detect, treat or cure COVID-19.