WHO Statements On 2nd IHR Meeting For Ebola & China’s Ebola Response

@WHO & Partners Ebola Response In Guinea

 

 

# 9080

 

In early August the WHO Emergency IHR Committee Declared Ebola Outbreak a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) which has helped ramp up the international response to the growing crisis in Western Africa.

 

Today, in one of two emails sent out by the World Health Organization, we learn that a second `virtual’ meeting is going this week to consider additional steps that can be taken, and that the results of that consultation will be made public when completed.

 

Media Advisory WHO/20

The second meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee on Ebola Viral Disease

WHAT: This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) will reconvene the IHR Emergency Committee on Ebola. The Members will hold their discussions via email in order to re-assess the ongoing Ebola outbreak situation in West Africa, and actions taken since it was declared a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” on 8 August.

The aim of this second meeting is to re-assess the situation and decide if additional temporary measures to reduce international spread should be taken.

 
The Members of the Emergency Committee will hear from the affected countries on the implementation of the recommendations made at the first meeting and what adjustments, if any, are necessary.

At the close of the meeting, WHO will post its final report on the website and will send this to media.

 

In a second email, WHO welcomes the contributions being offered by China in the fight against Ebola.

 

WHO welcomes Chinese contribution of mobile laboratory and health experts for Ebola response in West Africa

Statement
16 September 2014

GENEVA¦ 16 September 2014 -- WHO welcomes the commitment from the Government of the People’s Republic of China to dispatch a mobile laboratory team to Sierra Leone to enhance the laboratory testing capacity for Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the country.

The contribution comes in response to WHO’s appeal for further assistance to Ebola response efforts in Africa and requests by the government of Sierra Leone. In addition to laboratory experts, the 59-person team from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control will include epidemiologists, clinicians and nurses. They will support Ebola response efforts at the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, which was built in 2012 with assistance from the Chinese Government.

“The most urgent immediate need in the Ebola response is for more medical staff,” says Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “The newly announced team will join 115 Chinese medical staff on the ground in Sierra Leone virtually since the beginning. This is a huge boost,  morally and operationally.”

The WHO Ebola response roadmap, released on 28 August, highlights the need for a massively scaled response to support affected countries. The commitment from the Chinese Government exemplifies the kind of international effort required to intensify response activities and strengthen national capacities.

WHO Emergency Committee Declares Ebola Outbreak a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern)

@WHO & Partners Ebola Response In Guinea

 

 

# 8929

 

Overnight, after two days of deliberations. the World Health Organization’s IHR Emergency Committee decided to ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa a PHEIC.  This is the second such declaration this year, as the in May we saw a similar declaration on the resurgence of Polio.

 

You can listen to the WHO Press conference announcing this decision using this link.

 

Give the size and severity of this outbreak, its spread now to four African nations, and potential to be spread via international travel, the unanimous decision to declare a PHEIC was not unexpected.   Below you’ll find the statement, along with their interim recommendations.

 

 

WHO Statement on the Meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee Regarding the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa

WHO statement
8 August 2014

The first meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) [IHR (2005)] regarding the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD, or “Ebola”) outbreak in West Africa was held by teleconference on Wednesday, 6 August 2014 from 13:00 to 17:30 and on Thursday, 7 August 2014 from 13:00 to 18:30 Geneva time (CET).

Members and advisors of the Emergency Committee met by teleconference on both days of the meeting¹. The following IHR (2005) States Parties participated in the informational session of the meeting on Wednesday, 6 August 2014: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.

During the informational session, the WHO Secretariat provided an update on and assessment of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The above-referenced States Parties presented on recent developments in their countries, including measures taken to implement rapid control strategies, and existing gaps and challenges in the outbreak response.

After 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.

It was the unanimous view of the Committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have been met.

The current EVD outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013. This outbreak now involves transmission in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. As of 4 August 2014, countries have reported 1 711 cases (1 070 confirmed, 436 probable, 205 suspect), including 932 deaths. This is currently the largest EVD outbreak ever recorded. In response to the outbreak, a number of unaffected countries have made a range of travel related advice or recommendations.

In light of States Parties’ presentations and subsequent Committee discussions, several challenges were noted for the affected countries:

• their health systems are fragile with significant deficits in human, financial and material resources, resulting in compromised ability to mount an adequate Ebola outbreak control response;
• inexperience in dealing with Ebola outbreaks; misperceptions of the disease, including how the disease is transmitted, are common and continue to be a major challenge in some communities;
• high mobility of populations and several instances of cross-border movement of travellers with infection;
• several generations of transmission have occurred in the three capital cities of Conakry (Guinea); Monrovia (Liberia); and Freetown (Sierra Leone); and
• a high number of infections have been identified among health-care workers, highlighting inadequate infection control practices in many facilities.

The Committee provided the following advice to the Director-General for her consideration to address the Ebola outbreak in accordance with IHR (2005).

States with Ebola transmission

• The Head of State should declare a national emergency; personally address the nation to provide information on the situation, the steps being taken to address the outbreak and the critical role of the community in ensuring its rapid control; provide immediate access to emergency financing to initiate and sustain response operations; and ensure all necessary measures are taken to mobilize and remunerate the necessary health care workforce.
• Health Ministers and other health leaders should assume a prominent leadership role in coordinating and implementing emergency Ebola response measures, a fundamental aspect of which should be to meet regularly with affected communities and to make site visits to treatment centres.
• States should activate their national disaster/emergency management mechanisms and establish an emergency operation centre, under the authority of the Head of State, to coordinate support across all partners, and across the information, security, finance and other relevant sectors, to ensure efficient and effective implementation and monitoring of comprehensive Ebola control measures. These measures must include infection prevention and control (IPC), community awareness, surveillance, accurate laboratory diagnostic testing, contact tracing and monitoring, case management, and communication of timely and accurate information among countries. For all infected and high risks areas, similar mechanisms should be established at the state/province and local levels to ensure close coordination across all levels.
• States should ensure that there is a large-scale and sustained effort to fully engage the community – through local, religious and traditional leaders and healers – so communities play a central role in case identification, contact tracing and risk education; the population should be made fully aware of the benefits of early treatment.
• It is essential that a strong supply pipeline be established to ensure that sufficient medical commodities, especially personal protective equipment (PPE), are available to those who appropriately need them, including health care workers, laboratory technicians, cleaning staff, burial personnel and others that may come in contact with infected persons or contaminated materials.
• In areas of intense transmission (e.g. the cross border area of Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia), the provision of quality clinical care, and material and psychosocial support for the affected populations should be used as the primary basis for reducing the movement of people, but extraordinary supplemental measures such as quarantine should be used as considered necessary.
• States should ensure health care workers receive: adequate security measures for their safety and protection; timely payment of salaries and, as appropriate, hazard pay; and appropriate education and training on IPC, including the proper use of PPEs.
• States should ensure that: treatment centres and reliable diagnostic laboratories are situated as closely as possible to areas of transmission; that these facilities have adequate numbers of trained staff, and sufficient equipment and supplies relative to the caseload; that sufficient security is provided to ensure both the safety of staff and to minimize the risk of premature removal of patients from treatment centres; and that staff are regularly reminded and monitored to ensure compliance with IPC.
• States should conduct exit screening of all persons at international airports, seaports and major land crossings, for unexplained febrile illness consistent with potential Ebola infection. The exit screening should consist of, at a minimum, a questionnaire, a temperature measurement and, if there is a fever, an assessment of the risk that the fever is caused by EVD. Any person with an illness consistent with EVD should not be allowed to travel unless the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation.
• There should be no international travel of Ebola contacts or cases, unless the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation. To minimize the risk of international spread of EVD:
  • Confirmed cases should immediately be isolated and treated in an Ebola Treatment Centre with no national or international travel until 2 Ebola-specific diagnostic tests conducted at least 48 hours apart are negative;
  • Contacts (which do not include properly protected health workers and laboratory staff who have had no unprotected exposure) should be monitored daily, with restricted national travel and no international travel until 21 days after exposure;
  • Probable and suspect cases should immediately be isolated and their travel should be restricted in accordance with their classification as either a confirmed case or contact.
• States should ensure funerals and burials are conducted by well-trained personnel, with provision made for the presence of the family and cultural practices, and in accordance with national health regulations, to reduce the risk of Ebola infection. The cross-border movement of the human remains of deceased suspect, probable or confirmed EVD cases should be prohibited unless authorized in accordance with recognized international biosafety provisions.
• States should ensure that appropriate medical care is available for the crews and staff of airlines operating in the country, and work with the airlines to facilitate and harmonize communications and management regarding symptomatic passengers under the IHR (2005), mechanisms for contact tracing if required and the use of passenger locator records where appropriate.
• States with EVD transmission should consider postponing mass gatherings until EVD transmission is interrupted.

States with a potential or confirmed Ebola Case, and unaffected States with land borders with affected States

• Unaffected States with land borders adjoining States with Ebola transmission should urgently establish surveillance for clusters of unexplained fever or deaths due to febrile illness; establish access to a qualified diagnostic laboratory for EVD; ensure that health workers are aware of and trained in appropriate IPC procedures; and establish rapid response teams with the capacity to investigate and manage EVD cases and their contacts.
• Any State newly detecting a suspect or confirmed Ebola case or contact, or clusters of unexplained deaths due to febrile illness, should treat this as a health emergency, take immediate steps in the first 24 hours to investigate and stop a potential Ebola outbreak by instituting case management, establishing a definitive diagnosis, and undertaking contact tracing and monitoring.
• If Ebola transmission is confirmed to be occurring in the State, the full recommendations for States with Ebola Transmission should be implemented, on either a national or subnational level, depending on the epidemiologic and risk context.

All States

• There should be no general ban on international travel or trade; restrictions outlined in these recommendations regarding the travel of EVD cases and contacts should be implemented.
• States should provide travelers to Ebola affected and at-risk areas with relevant information on risks, measures to minimize those risks, and advice for managing a potential exposure.
• States should be prepared to detect, investigate, and manage Ebola cases; this should include assured access to a qualified diagnostic laboratory for EVD and, where appropriate, the capacity to manage travelers originating from known Ebola-infected areas who arrive at international airports or major land crossing points with unexplained febrile illness.
• The general public should be provided with accurate and relevant information on the Ebola outbreak and measures to reduce the risk of exposure.
• States should be prepared to facilitate the evacuation and repatriation of nationals (e.g. health workers) who have been exposed to Ebola.

The Committee emphasized the importance of continued support by WHO and other national and international partners towards the effective implementation and monitoring of these recommendations.

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 Director-General endorsed the Committee’s advice and issued them as Temporary Recommendations under IHR (2005) to reduce the international spread of Ebola, effective 8 August 2014. The Director-General thanked the Committee Members and Advisors for their advice and requested their reassessment of this situation within 3 months.

WHO: Statement Of 6th Meeting Of IHR Emergency Committee On MERS-CoV

 

 

*** UPDATED ***

17 June 2014 press briefing by Dr Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General for Health Security

• Audio of the press briefing
  mp3, 40Mb [00:34:00]

 

 

 

# 8750

 

As mentioned last Saturday, the World Health Organization  convened the sixth meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on Monday to discuss – among other things – whether the MERS Coronavirus outbreak on the Arabian Peninsula constitutes a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern).

WHO officials have just concluded a virtual press conference where they announced – to no great surprise – that while MERS remains a serious concern, it does not yet rise to the level of a PHEIC. Another meeting of the committee is scheduled for September.

We have the (emailed) press statement on this meeting (I’ll update with a link when it goes online), and we should have an audio recording of the press conference shortly.

 

 

WHO statement on the Sixth Meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee concerning MERS-CoV

The sixth meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) concerning Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was held by teleconference on Monday, 16 June 2014, from 1215 to 1619 Geneva time (CEST).

Members and advisers of the Committee are listed here:

http://www.who.int/entity/ihr/procedures/emerg_comm_members_20140616/en/index.html

In addition to Members of the Emergency Committee, three expert advisors participated in the informational session only. These advisors did not participate in the formulation of advice to the Director-General.

Seven affected States Parties reporting cases of MERS-CoV or evidence of infection since the fifth meeting of the Committee were also on the first part of the teleconference: Algeria, Iran, Jordan, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and United States of America.

The WHO Secretariat provided an update on and assessment of epidemiological and scientific developments, including a description of recently reported cases, transmission patterns, and the main observations of a recent WHO mission to UAE. 

Affected countries gave information about recent events in their countries, including description of cases, measures taken and their concerns about the current situation.

The Committee discussed the information provided. Based on current information, the Committee indicated that the situation remains serious in terms of public health impact. However, the upsurge in cases that began in April has now decreased and there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission in communities. There have been significant efforts made to strengthen infection prevention and control measures. As a result, the Committee unanimously concluded that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not yet been met.

However, the Committee emphasized that the situation continues to be of concern, especially given the anticipated increase in travel to Saudi Arabia related to Umra, Ramadan and the Hajj. The Committee focused attention  on the need to further analyse the hospital outbreaks to better understand where breaches in infection prevention and control are taking place, including where patients who have not yet received a diagnosis  gather and wait, often under crowded conditions, such as in emergency departments and clinics. The Committee also noted that recent investigative findings increasingly support the hypothesis that camels are  an important source of exposure to  MERS-CoV  in the community.  
The Committee reiterated that its previous advice remains relevant, and that all countries should:

• strengthen efforts to implement basic infection prevention and control measures, and increase education on these measures, especially among health care workers;  
• continue efforts to complete critical investigations as soon as possible, including case-control, serological, environmental, and animal studies, to better understand the epidemiology, especially risk factors; and to assess where breakdowns in infection prevention and control measures are occurring , and to share preliminary findings;
• support strengthening capacities in vulnerable countries, especially those in Africa, and that these countries, and particularly those in Africa, should  take concrete action in anticipation of Umra, Ramadan and Hajj with respect to basic public health actions such as conducting surveillance for MER CoV, raising awareness about and implementing basic infection prevention and control measures;
• improve awareness about MERS CoV among the pilgrims who are planning to go for Umra and Hajj, especially for those with chronic illness, and for accompanying medical delegations to be made aware of how to detect MERS, and personal  hygiene and basic infection control precautions.
• continue to enhance awareness through  effective risk communication concerning MERS-CoV to the general public, health professionals, and policy makers;
• use  WHO recommendations, including for groups at higher risk of infection with MERS-CoV:
  • World Health Organization travel advice on MERS-CoV for pilgrimages
  • Update on MERS-CoV transmission from animals to humans, and interim recommendations for at-risk groups
  • Assessment of potential risk factors of infection of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) among health care personnel in a health care setting
  • Interim surveillance recommendations for human infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
• strengthen intersectoral collaboration and joint activities between animal and human health sectors;
• share with WHO all relevant information needed to assess and manage MERS, in a timely manner, as required by the International Health Regulations (2005).

Finally, the Committee indicated that there was no solid information to support the use of thermal screening as a means to stop or slow the entry of MERS-CoV infections, and that resources for supporting such screening could be better used to strengthen surveillance, infection control and prevention or other effective public health measures.

Based on the Committee’s advice, and information currently available, the Director-General accepted the Committee’s assessment. She thanked the Committee for its work.

The WHO Secretariat will continue to provide regular updates to the Committee Members and Advisors. In view of the Committee’s ongoing concerns, the Emergency Committee will be reconvened in September 2014, or earlier if circumstances require.

 

WHO Announcement On IHR Committee Meeting Tomorrow

# 8616

 

Although it was expected to happen this afternoon, deliberations at the IHR Emergency Meeting on MERS apparently ran later than planned, and the results will be announced tomorrow morning.

 

The following notice was emailed to journalists a short time ago:

 

UPDATE: Confirmation of date and time of WHO Virtual Press Conference following the fifth meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

The meeting of the MERS-CoV Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations will publish its findings on Wednesday, May 14th.  WHO will organise a virtual press conference for journalists to announce the findings.

WHAT: World Health Organization virtual press conference on MERS-CoV and the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations

WHO: Dr Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General, WHO 

WHEN: Wednesday, 14 May 2014 at 13h Geneve time (11h GMT)

WHO Declares Polio Spread A Public Health Emergency Of International Concern

Photo Credit WHO

 

 

# 8572

 

The recent resurgence of Polio in the Middle East (see WHO: WPV1 (Polio) Risks In Israel Remain Moderate to High)  and in Africa (see WHO: Polio Outbreak In Horn Of Africa), along with the continued threat of infection in the three remaining polio-endemic nations (Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan), has highlighted the fragility of the global polio-eradication efforts.

 

Fearing that three decades of progress in eradicating the disease might be at risk, the World Health Organization  convened an expert committee over the weekend, and determined that the recent rise in cases constitutes a Public Health Emergency Of International Concern (PHEIC), and has announced immediate steps to  address the situation.

 

Below you’ll find a link to the announcement:

 

WHO Statement on the Meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee Concerning the International Spread of Wild Poliovirus

The Emergency Committee convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) [IHR (2005)] was held by teleconference on Monday 28 April 2014 from 13:30 to 17:30 Geneva time (CET) and on Tuesday 29 April 2014 from 13:30 to 19:00 Geneva time (CET).

Members of the Emergency Committee and expert advisors to the Committee met on both days of the meeting[1].  The following affected States Parties participated in the informational session of the meeting on Monday 28 April 2014: Afghanistan, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Israel, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and the Syrian Arab Republic.

During the informational session, the WHO Secretariat provided an update on and assessment of recent progress in stopping endemic and imported polioviruses and the international spread of wild polioviruses in 2014 as of 26 April.  The above affected States Parties presented on recent developments in their countries.

After discussion and deliberation on the information provided, and in the context of the global polio eradication initiative, the Committee advised that the international spread of polio to date in 2014 constitutes an ‘extraordinary event’ and a public health risk to other States for which a coordinated international response is essential.  The current situation stands in stark contrast to the near-cessation of international spread of wild poliovirus from January 2012 through the 2013 low transmission season for this disease (i.e. January to April).  If unchecked, this situation could result in failure to eradicate globally one of the world’s most serious vaccine preventable diseases.  It was the unanimous view of the Committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have been met.

(Continue . . . )

 

WHO Statement On the 4th IHR Emergency Committee Meeting On MERS-CoV

Coronavirus - Photo Credit WHO

 

 

# 8042

As I mentioned a couple of days ago (see WHO To Convene 4th Meeting Of IHR Emergency Committee On MERS-CoV) the World Health Organization was to convene a teleconference today of experts to review what has been learned about the MERS coronavirus, and to to decide whether the threat posed by MERS-CoV rises to the level of a "public health emergency of international concern" or PHEIC.

 

According to the WHO IHR FAQ, the term public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC ) is defined in the International Health Regulations 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”.

 

That meeting was held today at 12:00 hrs Geneva time, and we now have the following statement from the WHO.

While the continued surfacing of MERS-CoV cases in the Middle East remains a serious concern, to no great surprise, it was the unanimous decision of the Committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not at present been met.

 

The full statement, along with some details on their findings, follows below:

 

 

WHO Statement on the Fourth Meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee concerning MERS-CoV

WHO Statement
4 December 2013

The fourth meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) [IHR (2005)] concerning MERS-CoV was held by teleconference on Wednesday, 4 December 2013, from 12:00 to 15:50 Geneva time (CET).

In addition to Members of the Emergency Committee, two expert advisors also participated¹. A number of affected States Parties reporting recent cases of MERS-CoV – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Spain – were also on the teleconference.

During the informational session of the meeting, the WHO Secretariat provided an update on and assessment of epidemiological and scientific developments, including a description of cases over time, notable recent clusters, detection by polymerase chain reaction testing of MERS-CoV in camels, and the public health preparation and experience of the Hajj pilgrimage.

The above affected States Parties presented on recent developments in their countries.

After discussion and deliberation on the information provided, the Committee concluded that it saw no reason to change its previous advice to the Director-General. Based on a risk assessment of current information, it was the unanimous decision of the Committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not at present been met.

The situation continues to be of concern, in view of ongoing cases and of new information about the presence of the virus in camels. Although it still does not consider the events to constitute a PHEIC, the Committee reinforced its previous advice for consideration by WHO and Member States, as follows:

• strengthening surveillance, including in countries with pilgrims;
• continuing to increase awareness and effective risk communication concerning MERS-CoV;
• supporting countries that are particularly vulnerable, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, taking into account the regional challenges;
• increasing relevant diagnostic testing capacities;
• continuing with investigative work, including identifying the source of the virus and relevant exposures through case-control studies and other research;
• timely sharing of information in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005) and ongoing active coordination with WHO.

Based on events since its last meeting, the Committee emphasized the need for:

• investigative studies, including international case-control, serological, environmental, and animal-human interface studies, to better understand risk factors and the epidemiology;
• further review and strengthening of such tools as standardized case definitions and surveillance and further emphasis on infection control and prevention.

The Committee commended the extensive public health preparation for, surveillance and management of the Hajj pilgrimage by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

As it has since the initial meeting, the WHO Secretariat continues to provide regular updates to the Committee Members and Advisors. With regard to reconvening the Committee, it was suggested that March 2014 might be an appropriate time (i.e. after the Northern Hemisphere winter). It was noted that any serious developments may require re-convening the Committee before then.

Based on this advice and the currently available information, the Director-General accepted the Committee’s assessment. The Director-General thanked the Committee Members and Advisors for their advice.

WHO To Convene 4th Meeting Of IHR Emergency Committee On MERS-CoV

Coronavirus - Photo Credit WHO

 

#8024

 

On December 4th, members and advisors to  World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee will teleconference once again to review what has been learned about the MERS coronavirus, and to to decide whether the threat posed by MERS-CoV rises to the level of a "public health emergency of international concern" or PHEIC.

 

According to the WHO IHR FAQ, the term public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC ) is defined in the International Health Regulations 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”.

 

The three previous meetings – all held since last July – have all concluded that such an emergency did not currently exist.

 

WHO statements on MERS-CoV

• Third meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee concerning MERS-CoV
  25 September 2013
• Second meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee concerning MERS-CoV
  17 July 2013
• First meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee concerning MERS-CoV
  9 July 2013

 

The results of this week’s meeting will be posted on the WHO website at the following address:

http://www.who.int/ihr/ihr_ec_2013/en/index.html

 

While I’m not expecting a change in status, I will post an update when we get more information.

WHO Statement On IHR Meeting On MERS-CoV

Coronavirus - Photo Credit WHO

 

# 7491

 

In a statement emailed to the press this afternoon, the World Health Organization has announced that the second meeting of the Emergency Committee on the threat posed by MERS-CoV has ended, and the members have concluded that this virus `is serious and of great concern, but does not constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern at this time.’

 

A press conference will be held in a couple of hours, but here is the text from the press release.

 

Summary: Second Meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee concerning Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

WHO Statement

17 July 2013

The second meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) [IHR (2005)] was held by teleconference on Wednesday, 17 July 2013, from 12:00 to 16:04 Geneva time (CET).

 

In addition to Members of the Emergency Committee, an expert advisor to the Committee^[1] participated in the meeting. During the informational session of the meeting, several affected States Parties were also on the teleconference. The States Parties on the teleconference were:  France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom.

 

The Committee reviewed and deliberated on information on a range of aspects of MERS-CoV, which was  prepared or coordinated by the Secretariat and States in response to questions presented by Members during the first meeting.

 

It is the unanimous decision of the Committee that, with the information now available, and using a risk-assessment approach, the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern have not at present been met.

 

While not considering the events currently to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern Members of the Committee did offer technical advice for consideration by WHO and Member States on a broad range of issues, including the following:

• Improvements in surveillance, lab capacity, contact tracing and serological investigation
• Infection prevention and control and clinical management
• Travel-related guidance
• Risk communications
• Research studies (epidemiological, clinical and animal)
• Improved data collection and the need to ensure full and timely reporting of all confirmed and probable cases of MERS-CoV to WHO in accordance with the IHR (2005).

The WHO Secretariat will provide regular updates to the Members and will reconvene the Committee, in September, on a date to be determined. However, serious new developments may require an urgent re-convening of the Committee before then.
Based on these views and the currently available information, the Director-General accepted the Committee’s assessment that the current MERS-CoV situation is serious and of great concern, but does not constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern at this time.

 

The Director-General expressed her gratitude to the Committee on its wide range of advice on health actions for countries to implement, and advice on follow-up work by WHO.

Branswell On the WHO MERS Committee Meeting

Coronavirus - Photo Credit WHO

 

# 7486

 

Later today the World Health Organization will hold a virtual press conference to discuss the results of the second meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee which has been convened to decide whether the threat posed by MERS-CoV rises to the level of a "public health emergency of international concern" or PHEIC.

 

Overnight Helen Branswell published a terrific backgrounder (h/t Crof) that looks at what a PHEIC declaration really means, and includes comments by crisis communications expert Dr. Peter Sandman  and Michael Osterholm, Director of CIDRAP.

 

Follow the link below to read:

 

Is MERS an emergency? Language of IHR boxes WHO into a messaging dilemma

By Helen Branswell, The Canadian Press July 16, 2013

 

 

For a summary of what has transpired to date with this emergency committee meeting, you may wish to revisit these blogs (here, here), this overview by Lisa Schnirring at CIDRAP NEWS, or the following WHO documents:

 

IHR Emergency Committee concerning Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Emergency committee members

• See the full list of Members of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee concerning Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

• First Meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on MERS-CoV
  9 July 2013
• Press conference with Dr Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director General for Health Security and the Environment on MERS-Coronavirus, 5 July 2013
  pdf, 75kb

 

 

I’ll have an update later today after the press conference.