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Public Health Emergency of International Concern declared:No travel or trade restrictions recommended

　　The second meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the world health Organization (WHO) Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV)took place on Thursday, 30 January 2020. The Commtee’s role is to give advice to the Director-General, who makes the final decision on the determination of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Committee agreed that the outbreak now meets the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and Temporary Recommendations were issued.

　　“The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries. Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it. Let me be clear: this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China. On the contrary, WHO continues to have confidence in China’s capacity to control the outbreak,” said by the Director-General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

　　The Committee welcomed the leadership and political commitment of the very highest levels of the Chinese government, their commitment to transparency, and the efforts made to investigate and contain the current outbreak.

　　Dr Tedros said: “As I have said repeatedly since my return from Beijing, the Chinese government is to be congratulated for the extraordinary measures it has taken to contain the outbreak, despite the severe social and economic impact those measures are having on the Chinese people. We would have seen many more cases outside China by now – and probably deaths – if it were not for the government’s efforts and the progress they have made to protect their own people and the people of the world.”

　　However, the Committee also acknowledged that there are still many unknowns, cases have now been reported in five (out of six) WHO regions in one month, and human-to-human transmission has occurred outside Wuhan and outside China. The Committee states that they believe that it is still possible to interrupt virus spread, provided that countries put in place strong measures to detect the disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk. The Committee felt that a global coordinated effort is needed to enhance preparedness in other regions of the world that may need additional support.

　　“More important than the declaration of a public health emergency are the committee’s recommendations for preventing the spread of the virus and ensuring a measured and evidence-based response,” Dr Tedros said.

　　The Emergency Committee issued a set of temporary recommendations for WHO, China and the rest of the world. These can be broadly summarized as follows:

　　1. Implement response measures that are evidence-based and commensurate with public health risks – to this end, the Committee does not recommend any travel and trade restrictions

　　2. Support countries with weaker health systems

　　3. Accelerate the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics

　　4. Combat the spread of rumors and misinformation

　　5. Review preparedness plans, identify gaps and evaluate the resources needed to identify, isolate and care for cases, and prevent transmission

　　6. Share data, knowledge and experience with WHO and the world

　　7. Work together in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation.

　　“This is the time for facts, not fear. This is the time for science, not rumors. This is the time for solidarity, not stigma,” Dr Tedros concluded.

　　What are the International Health Regulations?

　　The International Health Regulations (2005), or IHR (2005), represents a binding international legal agreement involving 196 countries across the globe, including all the Member States of WHO. Their aim is to help the international community prevent and respond to acute public health risks that have the potential to cross borders and threaten people worldwide. The purpose and scope of the IHR (2005) is to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.

　　How does the IHR Emergency Committee work?

　　The Emergency Committee is made up of international experts who provide technical advice to the WHO Director-General in the context of a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). The Committee provides views on: whether the event constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC); the Temporary Recommendations that should be taken by the country experiencing an emergency of international concern, or by other countries, to prevent or reduce the international spread of disease and avoid unnecessary interference with international trade and travel; and the termination of a PHEIC.

　　The Director-General makes the final determination of a PHEIC and temporary Recommendations to address the situation, based on advice from the emergency Committee, information provided by the State Parties, scientific experts and an assessment of risk to human health, risk of international spread of disease and of risk of interference with international travel.

　　Under the IHR (2005), Temporary Recommendations automatically expire three months after their issuance. Emergency Committees are therefore convened at least every 3 months to review the current epidemiological situation and to review whether the event continues to be a public health emergency of international concern and whether changes need to be made to the Temporary Recommendations. A statement of the Emergency Committee meeting is published on the WHO website after each meeting of the Committee.

　　What is a public health emergency of international concern?

A PHEIC is defined in the IHR (2005) as, “an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response”. This definition implies a situation that is: serious, sudden, unusual or unexpected; carries implications for public health beyond the affected State’s national border; and may require immediate international action.

 Source: World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/)