The ''Weekly Epidemiological Record'' (''WER'') is a publication of the World Health Organization (WHO) that as of 2020 is in its 95th volume. It is published in English and French with the alternative title of the ''Relevé épidémiologique hebdomadaire''. It aims to rapidly disseminate epidemiological information about outbreaks of diseases under the International Health Regulations and about

communicable diseases An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dise ...

of public health importance. This includes emerging or re-emerging diseases. It was first published as the ''Relevé Hebdomadaire'' by a group of epidemiologists based in the Health Office of the League of Nations, in Geneva, in 1926 and later evolved to be a WHO publication. Between 1968 and 1979, it provided data on the smallpox situation in each country, allowing frontline workers to appraise their own work and compare it with others. In 1981 it began to publish data on emerging information on

AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...

. The bulk of its content relates to vaccination, epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response and treatment, in addition to reports on

neglected tropical diseases Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of tropical disease, tropical infections that are common in low-income populations in Developing country, developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They are caused by a variety ...

such as the most common infectious cause of blindness, trachoma. It includes professional reviews of selected infectious diseases. The

Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) is a group of experts that provides independent and authoritative guidance to the World Health Organization (WHO) on the topic of safe vaccine use. To maintain its independence, GACVS member ...

(GACVS) publishes its findings in the ''WER''. It is available electronically via the WHO's website and is free of charge.

Aim

The ''WER'' aims to rapidly disseminate epidemiological information about outbreaks of diseases under the International Health Regulations and about

of public health importance. This includes emerging or re-emerging diseases.

History

The ''Weekly Epidemiological Record'' was first published by a group of epidemiologists based in the Health Office of the League of Nations, in Geneva, on 1 April 1926, 20 years before the constitution of the World Health Organization was signed at the International Health Conference in New York. At the time, the ''WER's'' mission was to provide the world with information about disease threats that mostly travelled via the sea route:

cholera Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and ...

plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pes ...

, smallpox, typhus and yellow fever. The ''WER'' subsequently evolved into a WHO publication. Until 1967, during efforts to

eradicate smallpox Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by variola virus (often called smallpox virus) which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (WHO) cer ...

, smallpox unit chief Donald Henderson noted that the array of data failed to provide a true picture of what was going on in different countries. He had himself been through and distributed more than 230 reports from mainly field staff, until it was suggested to him to publish the data where it could be shared in one place, in the ''WER'', where it had a reach of some 5,000 people. Clear and concise data on the smallpox situation in each country subsequently appeared every three weeks in the ''WER'' between 1968 and 1979, during which time front line workers could appraise their own work and compare it with others. Following reports of AIDS in the CDC's '' Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report'' in June 1981, the WHO collected and published emerging information on the disease in the ''WER''.

Content

Clinical presentation of skin NTDs tropicalmed-03-00120-g001

The ''WER'' is published by the WHO in English and French with the alternative title of the ''Relevé épidémiologique hebdomadaire''. The bulk of its content relates to vaccination, epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response and treatment. It includes professional reviews of selected infectious diseases and global, regional and country epidemic events. Since 1998, the ''WER'' publishes the WHO policy relating to new vaccines. During the SARS outbreak in 2003, the ''WER'' reported epidemiological data on cases and by April 2003, more than 50% of the publication was dedicated to travel restrictions, reporting protocols and the transmission of SARS. In May 2012, the ''WER'' published the WHO SAGE's ( Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization) stance on the use of influenza vaccines, backed by an article which stated the WHO's update on including pregnant women as a priority. The

(GACVS), that responds to vaccine safety issues, publishes its findings in the ''WER''. It reports on

(NTD) in a systematic way. These include

schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis, also known as snail fever, bilharzia, and Katayama fever, is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes. The urinary tract or the intestines may be infected. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody s ...

lymphatic filariasis Lymphatic filariasis is a human disease caused by parasitic worms known as filarial worms. Usually acquired in childhood, it is a leading cause of permanent disability worldwide. While most cases have no symptoms, some people develop a syndrome ...

onchocerciasis Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is a disease caused by infection with the parasitic worm ''Onchocerca volvulus''. Symptoms include severe itching, bumps under the skin, and blindness. It is the second-most common cause of blindne ...

helminthiasis Helminthiasis, also known as worm infection, is any macroparasitic disease of humans and other animals in which a part of the body is infected with parasitic worms, known as helminths. There are numerous species of these parasites, which are br ...

and the most common infectious cause of blindness, trachoma, which the ''WER'' reported as posing a threat to 136.9 million people globally in July 2020, a drop from 1.5 billion in 2002 and a reduction of 91%. As of 2020 the ''WER'' is in its 95th volume.

Website and access

It is free of charge and available electronically via the WHO's website. Previously it was distributed by airmail and telex. It comes out on a Friday.

References

{{Reflist World Health Organization Weekly journals Epidemiology journals