The World Health Organization (WHO) is obligated to pursue the control and eradication of infectious disease. This mandate was enshrined in the 1946 constitutive treaty and has been repeatedly reinforced by World Health Assembly resolutions, programmes, and campaigns. In 1951 a purpose-built instrument – the International Sanitary Regulations – was adopted to strengthen the international organization’s means for preventing the international spread of disease while minimising disruption to international traffic and trade. The Regulations – which are now known as ‘the International Health Regulations’ (IHR) – were substantively revised in 2005 and are integral to the WHO’s mission. Importantly, however, as custodian of the revised IHR the WHO has periodically failed to take full advantage of the treaty’s provisions or use it as intended. This article discusses the importance of the IHR, the WHO’s obligations with respect to ensuring the correct functioning of the 2005 treaty, and outlines some measures that will enable the WHO to main stream the treaty and ensure fuller utilization.

世界卫生组织（世卫组织）有义务追求控制和消除传染病。这项任务授权已在1946年的宪政条约中确立，并被世界卫生大会的决议，计划和运动反复加以加强。1951年，通过了一项专门制定的文书《国际卫生条例》，以加强国际组织预防疾病在国际上传播的手段，同时最大程度地减少对国际贸易和贸易的干扰。该条例（现称为“国际卫生条例”）于2005年进行了实质性修订，是WHO使命不可或缺的一部分。但是，重要的是，作为修订后的《国际卫生条例》的保管人，世卫组织定期未能充分利用条约的规定或未按预期使用该规定。