Could you list the disease outbreaks that have been declared as the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)?
The Seven PHEIC according to IHR are as belows;
1. In 2009, H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) Declared May 2009 and ended Aug 2010. It originated in Mexico/USA region.
2. In 2014, Poliomyelitis (Polio Resurgence) Declared May 2014 and ended May 2023. It originated in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria.
3. In 2014, Ebola Virus Disease (West Africa) Declared Aug 2014 and ended Mar 2016. It originated in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
4. In 2016, Zika Virus, Declared Feb 2016 and ended Nov 2016. It originated in Brazil.
5. In 2018–2020, Ebola Virus Disease Declared Jul 2019 and ended Jun 2020. It originated in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
6. In 2020, COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), Declared Jan 2020 and ended May 2023. It originated in China.
7. In 2022, Monkeypox (now “Mpox”), Declared Jul 2022 and ended May 2023. It originated in Multiple countries.
Why do these outbreaks raise such concerns?
There outbreaks raise such concerns because of
-Rapid international spread (e.g., H1N1, COVID-19, Mpox).
-Severe health impact and high fatality rates (e.g., Ebola).
-Weak health systems unable to contain transmission (e.g., West Africa Ebola outbreak).
-Potential for mutation or vaccine escape (e.g., Polio resurgence, Influenza).
-Social and economic disruption, including travel and trade restrictions.
-Uncertainty about the disease’s nature, transmission, or control (e.g., Zika’s link to microcephaly).
In your opinion, is there a disease or condition that may potentially lead to PHEIC in the future? Why?
In my opinion, the following conditions are strong candidates that could trigger a PHEIC in the future:
a. Avian Influenza (H5N1, H5N6, H7N9 variants)
Sporadic human infections with very high case fatality (>50% in some strains).
Increasing reports of infection in mammals (e.g., sea lions, cats, cattle).
If sustained human-to-human transmission occurs, it could spark a global pandemic.
b. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
While not an “outbreak” in the traditional sense, the rise of drug-resistant infections (e.g., carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella, resistant gonorrhea, XDR-TB) could cause uncontrollable international health crises.
It fits the criteria of a PHEIC due to its global spread, lack of treatment options, and impact on healthcare systems.
