On 5 May 2014 the Director-General declared the international spread of wild poliovirus in 2014 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), issued temporary recommendations to reduce the international spread of wild poliovirus, and requested a reassessment of this situation by the Emergency Committee in 3 months.
Affected States Parties that meet the criteria for ‘States currently exporting wild poliovirus’ include: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Pakistan and the Syrian Arab Republic.
Since 5 May 2014, and the onset of the high transmission season for polio, there has been new international spread of wild poliovirus in central Asia (from Pakistan to Afghanistan as recently as June 2014) and a poliovirus originating in Central Africa (Equatorial Guinea) was reported from the Americas. The possible consequences of international spread have worsened since the declaration of the PHEIC, as susceptible populations living in polio-free but conflict-torn States and areas have increased, with further deterioration of their routine immunization services.
The international spread of poliovirus in 2014 continues to threaten the ongoing effort to eradicate globally one of the world’s most serious vaccine preventable diseases. It was the unanimous view of the Committee that the conditions for a PHEIC continue to be met.
