The International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 require WHO member states to report certain events to WHO. Which of the following is correctly classified as a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)' under IHR 2005?
- A Any outbreak of a notifiable disease exceeding 100 cases in a member state
- B Any epidemic declared by the affected member state's Ministry of Health
- C An extraordinary event which constitutes a public health risk to other states through international spread and may require a coordinated international response ✓
- D An event with >1% case fatality rate in the affected country
Correct answer: C. An extraordinary event which constitutes a public health risk to other states through international spread and may require a coordinated international response
Explanation
Under IHR 2005, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is defined as an extraordinary event that: (1) constitutes a public health risk to other states through international spread, and (2) potentially requires a coordinated international response. The determination is made by the WHO Director-General based on information from affected states and an Emergency Committee. Notable PHEICs include H1N1 (2009), polio (2014), Ebola (2014, 2019), Zika (2016), and COVID-19 (2020). A specific case threshold or national declaration is not required.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
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