Though Ebola No Longer PHEIC, Global Community Must Continue Broader Response Efforts

The Lancet: Ebola PHEIC is over but emergency continues
Editorial Board

“…[A]lthough the [Ebola] outbreak is no longer characterized by WHO as [a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC),] it was still highlighted that there is an urgent need for continued and full international and technical support to prevent, detect, and respond to new outbreaks in the region. … A potential danger is that the termination of the PHEIC will be perceived by some parties as a signal that their work is done, particularly given the announcement suggested that the existing capacity to respond is strong. … [I]t would be a tragedy if there was an easing of efforts to fully realize the development of Ebola vaccines and prepare for the next outbreak. … So, although there are technical grounds to terminate the PHEIC — a diminished international threat — it must be made abundantly clear that there is still a long way to go before the real emergency is over” (May 2016).

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