Public Health Emergency of International Concern
The Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is a designation by the World Health Organization (WHO) that is used to describe a situation involving a disease outbreak that poses a serious threat to public health and has the potential to spread internationally. The designation is intended to mobilize international cooperation to control the outbreak and minimize its impact.
About
The designation is intended to mobilize international cooperation to control the outbreak and minimize its impact. The PHEIC designation is only used in rare and severe cases, such as the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2016 and the COVID-19 pandemic declared in 2020. The WHO considers several factors when deciding to declare a PHEIC, including the severity of the disease, its potential to spread, and the impact on international trade and travel. The declaration of a PHEIC triggers various response mechanisms, such as global coordination and funding for research, vaccine development, and public health interventions. However, it is important to note that the PHEIC designation does not imply that travelers should avoid affected areas or that there should be travel or trade restrictions, as these measures can have negative consequences.