European Regional Laboratory Task Force for High Threat Pathogens. Terms of reference (2019)

To support implementation of the action plan to improve public health preparedness and response in the WHO European Region, as per Resolution EUR/RC68/R7 of the 68th session of the Regional Committee for Europe (RC68) in September 2018, and as part of the work of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) addressing Area 3 of the Better Labs for Better Health initiative, the WHO Regional Office for Europe is establishing the European Regional Laboratory Task Force for High Threat Pathogens (Lab Task Force).

The aim of the Lab Task Force is to strengthen preparedness for outbreaks by helping particularly WHE priority countries in the WHO European Region improve their capacities for the detection of outbreaks caused by high threat pathogens (HTPs).