scholarly journals Ebola and the airplane – securing mobility through regime interactions and legal adaptation

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (01) ◽  
pp. 71-89
Author(s):  
Gearóid Ó Cuinn ◽  
Stephanie Switzer
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Civil Aviation ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Function ◽  
A Site

AbstractThis article concentrates on a particular controversy during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa; the mass cancellation of flights to and from affected countries. This occurred despite authoritative advice against such restrictions from the World Health Organization (WHO). During a public health emergency such as Ebola, the airplane sits at a site of regulatory uncertainty as it falls within the scope of two specialist and overlapping domains of international law; the WHO International Health Regulations (2005) and the Convention on International Civil Aviation. We explore how legal technicalities and objects, by promoting functional interactions between these two specialized regimes of law, were utilized to deal with this uncertainty. We show how the form and function of these mundane tools had a significant impact; assimilating aviation further into the system of global health security as well as instrumentalizing the aircraft as a tool of disease surveillance. This encounter of regimes was law creating, resulting in new international protocols and standards designed to enable the resumption of flights in and out of countries affected by outbreaks. This article therefore offers significant and original insights into the hidden work performed by legal techniques and tools in dealing with regime overlap. Our findings contribute to the wider international law literature on fragmentation and enrich our understanding of the significance of relational regime interactions in international law.

scholarly journals An Innovative Approach to Surveillance Training in the African Region

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Kai Wong ◽  
Monique Tuyisenge-Onyegbula ◽  
Peter Gaturuku ◽  
Helen Perry
Keyword(s):  
Technology Use ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
African Region ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Regional Office ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Health Organization

The increase in technology use in Africa provides an opportunity to advance training delivery. The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed an electronic learning course targeting district and national surveillance health officers responsible for disease prevention, detection and response functions. The e-Learning course is based on the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response framework which incorporates core capacities for the International Health Regulations (2005) and supports the prevent-detect-respond goals of the Global Health Security Agenda. The course was piloted in 7 African countries, and will be implemented in 47 WHO-AFRO countries.

scholarly journals The Stellenbosch Consensus on Legal National Responses to Public Health Risks

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-68
Author(s):  
Roojin Habibi ◽  
Steven J. Hoffman ◽  
Gian Luca Burci ◽  
Thana Cristina de Campos ◽  
Danwood Chirwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vienna Convention ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
The Face ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

Abstract The International Health Regulations (ihr), of which the World Health Organization is custodian, govern how countries collectively promote global health security, including prevention, detection, and response to global health emergencies such as the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. Countries are permitted to exercise their sovereignty in taking additional health measures to respond to such emergencies if these measures adhere to Article 43 of this legally binding instrument. Overbroad measures taken during recent public health emergencies of international concern, however, reveal that the provision remains inadequately understood. A shared understanding of the measures legally permitted by Article 43 is a necessary step in ensuring the fulfillment of obligations, and fostering global solidarity and resilience in the face of future pandemics. In this consensus statement, public international law scholars specializing in global health consider the legal meaning of Article 43 using the interpretive framework of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 338-354
Author(s):  
Allyn Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Law ◽  
Contemporary Evolution ◽  
Public International Law ◽  
Intergovernmental Organization ◽  
Health Organization

The evolution of United Nations treaties in the domain of public health over the last two decades is one of the most significant developments in public international law. Although public health is one of the earliest fields of international legal cooperation and one of the first domains in which an intergovernmental organization was created, the scope of international legal cooperation in public health was, until recently, highly limited. This chapter provides an overview of the contribution of United Nations treaties in the evolving field of international health law. It examines the historical origins and the factors contributing to its contemporary evolution. In addition, the chapter briefly reviews the contribution of UN organizations, especially the World Health Organization, to the codification efforts in this realm.

Reporting Disease Outbreaks in a World with No Digital Borders

2018 ◽  
pp. 511-529
Author(s):  
Sara E. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
International Health ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Political Challenge ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations ◽  
Formal Recognition

In a world of fast-paced, globalised travel and trade, early detection of communicable disease outbreaks has become ever more important to prevent the rapid spread of disease. To facilitate surveillance and reporting, detection and communication must be as fast paced as the movement of the outbreak. This sense of urgency has prompted a pivot to technology as the best solution to keep up with the spread of disease. Reliance on a variety of state and nonstate informants with access to surveillance platforms to report potential disease outbreak events to the World Health Organization (WHO) has led to its formal recognition in the revised International Health Regulations (IHRs). However, as this chapter discusses, the inclusion of nonstate reports in disease surveillance and reporting remains a practical and political challenge.

scholarly journals Zika Virus: A Review of Management Considerations and Controversies at Six Months

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-284
Author(s):  
Laura Singer ◽  
Kelly G. Vest ◽  
Charles W. Beadling
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Neurologic Disorders ◽  
Control Disease ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

AbstractZika virus continues to pose a significant global health threat. While the outbreak pattern may seemingly mirror those of other arboviruses, unique transmission characteristics and clinical outcomes warrant a different approach to traditional public health practices. Sexual transmission and virus-associated fetal and nonfetal neurologic disorders specifically challenge conventional methods of disease protection and prevention with regard to vector control, disease surveillance, and health risk communication. The protocols for outbreak and case limitation led by the World Health Organization (in accordance with Public Health Emergency of International Concern declaration) may be augmented by localized risk categorization and assignment for Zika and future emergent outbreaks. There is currently a great deal of “behind the scenes” discussion about modifications to the formal process described in the International Health Regulations. A scalable, adaptable, and flexible process is needed that can be customized to a specific threat. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:279–284)

scholarly journals Public–private partnerships in trust-based public health social networking: Connecting organizations for regional disease surveillance (CORDS)

1969 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise S Greshama ◽  
Leslie A Pray ◽  
Suwit Wibulpolprasert ◽  
Beverly Trayner
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Rockefeller Foundation ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Regional Disease ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
World Organization

We describe a new trust-based global health security initiative known as CORDS: Connecting Organizations for Regional Disease Surveillance. Initiated and managed by the Nuclear Threat Initiative with support of The Rockefeller Foundation, Fondation Mérieux and the Skoll Global Threats Fund. CORDS is a non-governmental platform to transform dialogue among public health, veterinary and wildlife professionals from multi-country infectious disease surveillance networks. It also links with the World Health Organization, World Organization for Animal Health and other global partners in managing cross-border emerging infectious disease threats and building disease surveillance capacity. The public–private partnerships of CORDS create a global social fabric and continuity of disease experts based upon trust.

scholarly journals Lifestyle-based health awareness using digital gadgets and online interactive platforms

2021 ◽  
pp. 295-310
Author(s):  
Iqra Khan ◽  
Salman Akhtar ◽  
Mohammad Kalim Ahmad Khan
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
International Travel ◽  
World Health ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Health Security ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Health Organization

With the transforming world, awareness of lifestyle-based variation is necessary. The availability of the locally available network and smart devices like wearable health devices (WHDs) based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology prompted us to learn about the disease, its causes, spreads, and precautions. Socioeconomic, environmental and behavioural factors, international travel and migration foster and increase the spread of communicable diseases. Vaccine-preventable, foodborne, zoonotic, healthcare-related and communicable diseases pose significant threats to human health and may sometimes threaten international health security. On the other hand, non-communicable diseases, also known as chronic diseases, are more prolonged. It could be the cause of different factors like genetic, environmental, behavioural or physiological disturbances. Smart wearables help to keep these diseases in check through different sensors installed in them. They can check for the difference in body function, but they can also help the needy consult the physician or practitioner. The data collected from these devices can also check the current health status when compiled with data collected practically. Organizations viz., World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work collaboratively, leading global efforts to expand health coverage. WHO keeps the nation safe through connecting its people on the health and awareness interactive platforms, and FDA promotes public health through supervision and control, defending its role in human health and services.

Global Health Security Demands a Strong International Health Regulations Treaty and Leadership From a Highly Resourced World Health Organization

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 568-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick M. Burkle
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
Global Health Security ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

AbstractIf the Ebola tragedy of West Africa has taught us anything, it should be that the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR) Treaty, which gave unprecedented authority to the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide global public health security during public health emergencies of international concern, has fallen severely short of its original goal. After encouraging successes with the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic, the intent of the legally binding Treaty to improve the capacity of all countries to detect, assess, notify, and respond to public health threats has shamefully lapsed. Despite the granting of 2-year extensions in 2012 to countries to meet core surveillance and response requirements, less than 20% of countries have complied. Today it is not realistic to expect that these gaps will be solved or narrowed in the foreseeable future by the IHR or the WHO alone under current provisions. The unfortunate failures that culminated in an inadequate response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa are multifactorial, including funding, staffing, and poor leadership decisions, but all are reversible. A rush by the Global Health Security Agenda partners to fill critical gaps in administrative and operational areas has been crucial in the short term, but questions remain as to the real priorities of the G20 as time elapses and critical gaps in public health protections and infrastructure take precedence over the economic and security needs of the developed world. The response from the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and foreign medical teams to Ebola proved indispensable to global health security, but both deserve stronger strategic capacity support and institutional status under the WHO leadership granted by the IHR Treaty. Treaties are the most successful means the world has in preventing, preparing for, and controlling epidemics in an increasingly globalized world. Other options are not sustainable. Given the gravity of ongoing failed treaty management, the slow and incomplete process of reform, the magnitude and complexity of infectious disease outbreaks, and the rising severity of public health emergencies, a recommitment must be made to complete and restore the original mandates as a collaborative and coordinated global network responsibility, not one left to the actions of individual countries. The bottom line is that the global community can no longer tolerate an ineffectual and passive international response system. As such, this Treaty has the potential to become one of the most effective treaties for crisis response and risk reduction worldwide. Practitioners and health decision-makers worldwide must break their silence and advocate for a stronger Treaty and a return of WHO authority. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:568–580)

scholarly journals Investigating the Role of International Law in Controlling Communicable Diseases

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliasghar Kheirkhah ◽  
Manuchehr Kheirkhah ◽  
Somayeh Zabihi-Mahmoodabadi
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
International Law ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
International Health ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
World Health ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Nation States ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Control

International law globally plays a key role in the surveillance and control of communicable diseases. Throughout the nineteenth century, international law played a dominant role in harmonizing the inconsistent national quarantine regulations of European nation states; facilitating the exchange of epidemiological information on infectious diseases; establishing international health organizations; and standardization of surveillance. Today, due to changed forms of infectious diseases and individuals' lifestyles as well as individuals' proximity caused by increased air travels, communicable diseases are in an international and cross-border form. In this regard, binding regulations and inconsistent rules adopted in international multilateral institutions like the World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization can be of great use in surveillance and control of communicable diseases. With the globalization of public health, international law can be used as an essential tool in monitoring global health and reducing human vulnerability and mortality.

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