> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gdeltcloud.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Public health > What each `HEALTH` code means — definition, inclusions and exclusions for all 5 codes. **This page is the DICTIONARY.** It says what each code MEANS — the definition the coder applies, and what the code includes and excludes — so you can decide whether it is the right one. For the full value list and how the codes nest, use the [complete event taxonomy](/reference/taxonomy-complete). Epidemic outbreaks, pandemics, vaccine milestones, health policy, and system crises Filter with `GET /api/v2/events?family=cameoplus&cameoplus_domain=HEALTH`, or on a specific `subcategory` code below. Every code in this domain starts `HE`. Goldstein does not apply to this domain — see the [domain index](/reference/codes-domains). **How the metrics read in this domain.** magnitude is a realized-impact severity tier (local → national → global); propagation\_potential reads observed transmission conditions rather than an inferred reproduction number ### `HE01` **DISEASE OUTBREAK** A new or unusual infectious disease event at subnational to national scale: official declaration of a new outbreak, novel pathogen identified (new virus, variant of concern), unusual cluster of cases triggering WHO or government response, disease crossing a national border for the first time, animal disease outbreak with confirmed human spillover risk (avian flu in humans). The event requires an official health authority response. Scale: any outbreak with official government or WHO recognition. Threshold: tens of confirmed cases at minimum for well-known diseases; any confirmed case for truly novel pathogens; mass animal culls (millions of animals) qualify when spillover risk is confirmed. **Also covers** * new pathogen identified * outbreak declared * epidemic spread * novel variant * Also includes significant zoonotic events: avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in poultry with mass culling and confirmed or imminent human spillover risk, livestock disease outbreak (foot-and-mouth, ASF) with major food security or trade implications, confirmed wildlife reservoir event for a pathogen of pandemic concern. Code when official government or WHO response is triggered, regardless of confirmed human cases. **Does not cover** * NOVEL vs. ENDEMIC: novel pathogens or unusual presentations always merit HE01 coding. Seasonal flu outbreaks within normal ranges do not. COVID variant declarations merit HE01 only when WHO/CDC designates a new variant of concern. ### `HE02` **PANDEMIC OR GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCY** A WHO or government declaration of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), pandemic, or equivalent: WHO PHEIC declaration, WHO pandemic declaration, multi-country simultaneous outbreak reaching WHO alert level, regional pandemic declaration. **Also covers** * WHO pandemic declaration * PHEIC * multi-country spread event * Also: a PHEIC being formally ended is codeable as a significant milestone. ### `HE03` **VACCINE OR TREATMENT MILESTONE** A discrete milestone in the vaccine or treatment development/deployment cycle: regulatory approval of a new vaccine or treatment (FDA EUA, full approval, EMA approval, WHO prequalification), major national rollout launch, large-scale efficacy trial result release (Phase 3 primary endpoint), significant vaccine supply disruption or allocation decision, patent waiver decision affecting global access. **Also covers** * approval * rollout launch * efficacy data release * supply disruption **Does not cover** * VACCINE LIFECYCLE: distinguish HE03 (approval/rollout milestone) from HE04 (mandate policy). A vaccine approval is HE03; a vaccination mandate is HE04. ### `HE04` **PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY ACTION** A government implements a concrete public health measure: national lockdown enacted (not proposed), international travel restrictions with named country bans (implemented), mass vaccination mandate (signed into law or executive order), school closure order (national or major city level), quarantine requirement imposed, public health emergency declared at national level, mask mandate enacted. The action must be IMPLEMENTED, not debated or proposed. **Also covers** * lockdown * quarantine * travel restriction * vaccination mandate * health emergency declared **Does not cover** * POLICY TIMING: for HE04, code at enactment/implementation, not at announcement of intent or political debate. "Government announces it is considering a lockdown" → SKIP. "Government imposes lockdown effective midnight" → HE04. * VACCINE LIFECYCLE: distinguish HE03 (approval/rollout milestone) from HE04 (mandate policy). A vaccine approval is HE03; a vaccination mandate is HE04. ### `HE05` **HEALTH SYSTEM CRISIS** A discrete event causing acute strain or breakdown of the healthcare delivery system: hospital overflow event (officially declared, patients turned away at national scale), critical medicine shortage (official declaration, medication unavailable in healthcare system), mass healthcare worker strike affecting service delivery, confirmed collapse of health system in a country or region, vaccine storage failure causing mass spoilage, PPE shortage during outbreak response. **Also covers** * hospital overflow * medicine shortage * health worker strike * system collapse * HE05 (hospital overload): facility capacity crisis — ICU overflow, patient diversions, triage in corridors — tag "hospital overload" * HE05 (medicine shortage): critical medication unavailable due to supply chain failure, regulatory issue, or crisis demand — tag "medicine shortage" * HE05 (healthcare workforce): healthcare worker strike, mass resignation, or workforce collapse affecting service delivery — tag "healthcare workforce"