WHO public health emergency: What to know

What does a PHEIC entail?

With the PHEIC now in place, WHO will send a series of recommendations to member states aimed at controlling the spread of the disease and providing support to affected areas.

These will include recommending containment measures for health authorities, and possible future transport advisories designed to mitigate the cross-border spread of the disease while at the same time limiting disruption to travel and trade.

The WHO can recommend against border measures such as visa or import bans, border closures, flight cancelations and even passenger screening.

When a PHEIC is occurring, the WHO director-general shall issue temporary recommendations to member states, including placing suspected persons under public health observation; refusing entry of suspect and affected persons; implementing exit screening or restrictions on persons from affected areas; implementing treatment of the baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods and postal parcels to remove infection or contamination; or even refusing their departure or entry.