To highlight the significance of emerging infectious diseases to health security in the Western Pacific Region, the World Health Organization (WHO) co-organized a special side event with the United States of America and the Republic of Korea at the sixty-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in Guam.
"Disease outbreaks of the past year have served as a strong reminder of the need to strengthen health security," said Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. "We all know that the Western Pacific Region is a hot spot for health security threats. Over the past decade, we have seen dangerous emerging diseases—such as SARS, avian influenza H5N1 and H7N9, and more recently, Ebola and MERS." Dr Shin added, "This forum will highlight why health security is so important and why we must continue to build our capacities to prepare for and respond to these threats—especially in calm times."
The unprecedented Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in August 2014, in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). Though the Western Pacific Region had no confirmed EVD case, the large-scale outbreak tested regional preparedness and ability to support global response.
In July, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in the Republic of Korea showed that every country is vulnerable to economic, social and political consequences caused by disease outbreaks. Health threats posed by emerging diseases do not respect national borders and no country can manage such threats alone.
Keeping threats at bay
The side event drew lessons learnt from the recent major outbreaks and discussed future directions to further strengthen regional health security in the Western Pacific Region. It also highlighted the importance of investing in health security during "peace time." Participants spoke about re-emphasizing the vulnerability of the Western Pacific to health security threats in light of the EVD and MERS outbreaks. The achievements of the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases 2010 (APSED 2010) to comply with IHR (2005) in ensuring health security over the years were also highlighted. An update on the Global Health Security Agenda and lessons learnt on the recent MERS outbreak in the Republic of Korea were shared.
A global legal framework and regional tool for health security
The IHR (2005) is a legal framework for protecting global health security. It was developed in response to the exponential increase in international travel and trade, and emergence and re-emergence of international disease threats and other health risks. One-hundred and ninety-six States Parties across the globe have agreed to implement the IHR (2005). This binding instrument of international law entered into force on 15 June 2007.
In the Western Pacific Region, IHR (2005) is being implemented via APSED, which serves as a common regional tool and guidance to build sustainable national and regional capacities and partnerships via preparedness, planning, prevention, early detection and rapid response to emerging diseases and other public health emergencies.
Progress achieved
Significant progress has been made in managing regional health security threats in the past 10 years since APSED was implemented. However, nine Member States remain unable to meet the IHR core capacity requirements. Health security threats continue to surface with significant impact and continuous strengthening of regional preparedness and the ability to respond adequately is a must for ensuring regional health security.