The first meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Committee convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) regarding the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa was held by teleconference on August 6-7. Members and advisors of the Emergency Committee met by teleconference on both days.
Representatives of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria participated in the informational sessions. During those sessions, the WHO Secretariat provided an update on and assessment of the Ebola outbreak. Participants 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, 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. Read the full WHO announcement.
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