Public Health

Effective outbreak reporting and management are crucial for safeguarding the health of all UN staff and ensuring a swift, coordinated response to emerging threats.

Outbreak Preparedness Checklist

To support your preparedness and response efforts, we highly recommend using this generic Outbreak Preparedness Checklist, which you can use to adapt for any specific pathogen.

Utilizing this checklist will help you develop a robust preparedness plan, ensuring that you are well-equipped to handle any emergent outbreaks efficiently and protect the health of UN personnel in your duty station.

All outbreaks, small or large, affecting UN personnel should be reported to DHMOSH through the e-ORT portal.

• You can access the online version of the e-Outbreak Reporting Tool (ORT) at:
  • Mission Outbreak Reporting Form
  • Non-mission Outbreak Reporting Form
• You can also use your phone or iPad. See Guide for accessing the e-Outbreak Reporting tool (ORT) on your mobile device.
• If you need the tool but do not have access, please contact dos-dhmosh-public-health@un.org.
• For an online walk through guide on how to use the tool, please see the Step-by-step Guide: e-Outbreak Reporting Tool (ORT).
• For a presentation by Dr Tan about the e-ORT, including information about when you should use it and in what scenario, please see the DHMOSH Global Webinar: “Introduction to DHMOSH’s e-Outbreak Response Tool (ORT)"

The UN Division of Healthceare Management and Occupational Safety and Health (DHMOSH) maintains several webpages which provides UN personnel with information on specific diseases that may find beneficial. Each section provides you with an overview of the disease, links to helpful resources and some include specific recommendations from the UN Medical Directors on what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones against the disease.

• Animal Bites
• Back Pain
• Chikungunya
• Cholera
• Conjunctivitis
• Dengue
• Ebola Virus Disease
• Hantavirus
• Influenza
• Lassa Fever
• Malaria
• Marburg Virus Disease
• Meningococcal Disease/Meningitis
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
• Monkeypox
• Novel Coronavirus
• Plague
• TB
• Typhoid
• Yellow Fever
• Zika Virus

Additional DHMOSH Risk Mitigation Plan(s) (RMP(s)) are found here:

• Legionella (Legionnaires' Disease)

UN Policies on HIV/AIDS

• Policy on HIV/AIDS in the workplace
• Security Council Resolution 1983(2011)
• Security Council’s Resolution 1308 (2000)
• Role and Functions of HIV/AIDS Units in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
• United Nations Personnel Policy on HIV/AIDS

Information for UN Staff

• In addition, all UN personnel working in peacekeeping operations and duty stations may participate in a HIV awareness programme during their onboarding process and periodically on a local schedule that has been decided by the mission or country HIV program focal point
• UN e-course containing the latest information on HIV as a workplace issue and is available in English and French. (Registration through Inspira: search for LMS-1402)
• Further information on HIV/AIDS (Overview, Symptoms, and Treatment) is available on the WHO HIV/AIDS Webpage

Information for UN Medical Staff

• HIV Clinical Manifestation/Clinical Diagnosis /HIV infection progression with Dr. Joseph Masci (30 March 2021)
• UN DHMOSH Guidance on HIV Testing for UN Health Facilities (English I French)

HIV/AIDS Frequently Asked Questions (HIV/AIDS FAQ)

• For general knowledge and Frequently Asked Questions on HIV/AIDS, visit the WHO Webpage: HIV/AIDS FAQ (English I French )

Visit the UN System HIV and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Kit Program

• Access past sessions HERE

This section features important and recently updated public health guidance and recommendations for UN personnel and health care providers.

UNMD Vaccination and Malaria Prophylaxis Recommendations

The United Nations Medical Directors (UNMD) have developed specific Vaccination and Malaria Prophylaxis Recommendations for UN Personnel on Official Travel and UN Health Care Workers to provide guidance on routine and destination-specific vaccinations, malaria prevention, and vaccinations for at-risk UN health care workers. Personnel are advised to consult their health care provider based on their individual health status, vaccination history, destination, itinerary, type of travel, and length of stay.

• For more information, please click HERE

Interested in bringing health and wellness activities to your office and getting invites to our programs? Become a UN Health & Wellness Champion. Register here to volunteer.