Open AccessInternational Health Regulations, Ebola, and Emerging Infectious Diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean
Author(s) -
Marcos Espinal,
Sylvain Aldighieri,
Ronald St. John,
Francisco Becerra-Posada,
Carissa F. Etienne
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2015.302969
Subject(s) - preparedness , public health , latin americans , international health regulations , ebola virus , outbreak , global health , economic growth , international health , environmental health , medicine , political science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , caribbean region , health policy , disease , virology , covid-19 , law , nursing , pathology , economics
The World Health Organization's determination of the Ebola virus disease outbreak as a public health event of international concern prompted nonaffected countries to implement measures to prevent, detect, and manage the introduction of the virus in their territories. The outbreak provided an opportunity to assess the operational implementation of the International Health Regulations' core capacities and health systems' preparedness to handle a potential or confirmed case of Ebola virus disease. A public health framework implemented in Latin America and Caribbean countries encompassing preparatory self-assessments, in-country visits, and follow-up suggests that the region should increase efforts to consolidate and sustain progress on core capacities and health system preparedness to face public health events with national or international repercussions.