The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently announced that Covid-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). In this essay, we will explore what a PHEIC is, the criteria for declaring an emergency, and the implications of the designation. We will also examine the background of Covid-19 and its designation as a PHEIC, and why the WHO has now removed this designation.
What is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)?
A PHEIC is an extraordinary event that constitutes a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease, which may potentially require a coordinated international response. It is not limited to infectious diseases and may also include emergencies caused by exposure to chemical agents or radioactive material.
The WHO has declared several PHEICs in the past, including the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the 2013–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the 2015–2016 Zika virus epidemic, and the ongoing 2022–2023 mpox outbreak. When a disease is declared a PHEIC, the host country may face travel and trade restrictions, and states have a legal duty to respond promptly to the emergency.
Designation of Covid-19 as PHEIC
COVID-19 is a viral infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease first came to light when China reported a cluster of pneumonia cases with no known cause in Wuhan on December 31, 2019. It quickly spread worldwide, resulting in the Covid-19 pandemic.
In January 2020, the WHO declared Covid-19 a PHEIC. India has reported 4.43 crore cases and 5.3 lakh deaths due to Covid-19 so far. Globally, the number of infections has crossed 76.5 crore, causing 69.2 lakh deaths.
Why has the WHO removed the designation of Covid-19 as PHEIC?
Over the last three years, doctors and researchers have made significant progress in understanding Covid-19 and its management. They have developed better, cheaper, and point-of-care diagnostics, medicines to prevent viral replication, and vaccines that can prevent severe disease. As a result, the WHO believes that Covid-19 no longer poses a PHEIC.
Important Points:
🌍 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
🚨 A PHEIC is an extraordinary event that constitutes a public health risk to other countries and may require a coordinated international response.
🧪 There are three criteria for declaring a disease a PHEIC: it must be an extraordinary event, a public health risk to other countries through international spread, and potentially require a coordinated international response.
🌡️ COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has common symptoms such as fever, cough, headache, fatigue, and breathing difficulties.
🔬 Doctors and researchers have made significant progress in understanding transmission, diagnostics, and treatments for COVID-19 over the past three years.
💉 Vaccines have also been developed and widely distributed to prevent severe disease and death from COVID-19.
🌐 The COVID-19 pandemic has affected countries worldwide, with India reporting 4.43 crore cases and 5.3 lakh deaths, and the global number of infections crossing 76.5 crore and causing 69.2 lakh deaths.
👨⚕️ The WHO’s decision to remove the PHEIC designation indicates that the focus is shifting towards long-term management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why In News
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that COVID-19 is no longer considered a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and that the focus will now shift towards long-term management of the infection.
MCQs about Public Health Emergency of International Concern
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What is the definition of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)?
A. An extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease
B. An event that only covers infectious diseases
C. An event that does not require a coordinated international response
D. An event that can be managed solely by the host country
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What is the responsibility of the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) in declaring a PHEIC?
A. To declare a PHEIC without consulting anyone
B. To take advice from an internationally made up committee of experts, the IHR Emergency Committee (EC)
C. To consult only the host country before declaring a PHEIC
D. To declare a PHEIC only after the disease has been fully contained
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Which of the following is true about a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)?
A. It is an extraordinary event that poses a public health risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response.
B. It only covers emergencies caused by exposure to chemical agents.
C. The responsibility of declaring an event as a PHEIC lies with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
D. It does not require any response from the affected countries.
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