Ebola outbreak: Public Health Emergency of International Importance (PHEIC)

Public Health Emergency of International Importance (PHEIC)

The Director-General (DG) of the World Health Organization (WHO) convened the first meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (2005) regarding Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on 6 and 7 August 2014. Based on discussion and deliberation on the information provided, the Committee advised that: the Ebola outbreak in West Africa constitutes an ‘extraordinary event’ and a public health risk to other States; the possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the virulence of the virus, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the weak health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries. a coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop and reverse the international spread of Ebola;

Based on this advice, the reports made by affected States Parties and the currently available information, the Director-General accepted the Committee’s assessment and on 8 August 2014 declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

The latest information and further details can be found on WHO’s website: www.who.int

Background In the most challenging Ebola outbreak the world has ever faced, the cumulative numbers for affected West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone are as follows (reported to WHO as of 4 August 2014):

·         Guinea [Cases: 495; deaths: 363]

·         Liberia [Cases: 516; deaths: 282]

·         Sierra Leone [Cases: 691; deaths: 286]

·         Nigeria [Cases: 9, Deaths 1]

 The cumulative number of cases is 1711 and total number of deaths is 9321 The current outbreak originated in Guinea (first case reported on 21 March 2014) and spread into Sierra Leone and Liberia. This is first time these countries have reported Ebola outbreaks.

1 The total number of cases includes confirmed +probable suspected and is subject to change due to reclassification, retrospective investigation, and consolidation of cases, laboratory data and enhanced surveillance. Data reported in the Disease Outbreak News are based on best available information reported by Ministries of Health.

WCO India update on Ebola Virus Disease, 8 Aug 2014 This outbreak is caused by a strain of ebolavirus with very close homology (98%) to the Zaire ebolavirus.