IT·Science Talk

PHEIC vs "pandemic emergency": the difference, in plain English

A few people asked in chat why WHO called the Ebola outbreak a global emergency but also said it isn't a pandemic emergency, so here's my attempt, using only what's in the GONOM post.

PHEIC = public health emergency of international concern. It's WHO saying "countries, coordinate now". A pandemic emergency is a higher level that WHO officials said this outbreak doesn't meet. Separately, L'Orient Today pointed out that Tedros declared it without consulting experts first, which is apparently a first. And the big medical issue per NUS Medicine: no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo, so early supportive care matters a lot.

I'm a game tester, not a doctor, so correct me if I got anything wrong, medical people. Thinking of everyone affected.