Detection, Verification and Risk Assessment (DVA)

The PAHO Detection, Verification and Risk Assessment (DVA) team is part of the PAHO Health Emergencies Department, under the Health Emergency Information & Risk Assessment Unit (HIM), and one of its functions is to serve as the WHO International Health Regulations Regional Contact Point.

As the WHO International Health Regulations (2005) Regional Contact Point, the PAHO DVA team provides support for Member States of the Region of the Americas in establishing and implementing functional integrated early warning and response systems in order to improve early detection and rapid response to epidemic-prone diseases with pandemic potential and other public health emergencies.

The DVA team collaborates with WHO headquarters, Regional Offices (see annual reports), PAHO Country Offices and Member States in carrying out event surveillance, risk assessment and information management and dissemination.