Public Health Emergency of International Concern

A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) (pronounced /ˈpʌblɪk hɛlθ ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi ɒv ˌɪntəˈnaʃənəl kənˈsɜːrn/) is a formal declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is used to bring attention to an extraordinary event that is determined to constitute a public health risk to other countries through the international spread of disease, and potentially require a coordinated international response.

Etymology

The term "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" is a specific term used by the World Health Organization and is defined in their International Health Regulations (2005). The term "public health" refers to the health of the population as a whole, "emergency" refers to a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action, "international" refers to involving more than one country, and "concern" refers to a matter of interest or importance.

Related Terms

Epidemic: A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
Pandemic: An epidemic of disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents, or worldwide.
Endemic: The constant presence and/or usual prevalence of a disease or infectious agent in a population within a geographic area.
Outbreak: A sudden increase in occurrences of a disease in a particular time and place. It can affect a small area or impact upon thousands of people.
Zoonosis: A disease that can be transmitted to humans from animals.