The International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 introduced the concept of 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern' (PHEIC). The IHR 2005 expanded the scope of notifiable events from specific diseases to any event that meets specific criteria. Under IHR 2005, the WHO Director-General declares a PHEIC based on:

• A Any epidemic event reported by three or more WHO member states simultaneously
• B An extraordinary event that constitutes a public health risk through international spread of disease and potentially requires a coordinated international response ✓
• C A disease causing > 1000 deaths in any single country within 30 days
• D Any novel pathogen isolated for the first time in human samples

Explanation

Under IHR 2005, a PHEIC is defined as an extraordinary event which (1) constitutes a public health risk to other States through international spread of disease, and (2) potentially requires a coordinated international response. The DG declares PHEIC after consultation with an IHR Emergency Committee. The event need not have caused a specific death toll or involve a novel pathogen — it is a risk-based determination. PHEICs declared include H1N1 influenza (2009), Polio (2014), Ebola (2014, 2019), Zika (2016), COVID-19 (2020), Mpox (2022). IHR also established core capacity requirements for member states (surveillance, response, lab, risk communication).

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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