MANILA, 24 NOVEMBER 2014 - While the risk of a travel-related case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Western Pacific Region is not high, the consequences could be significant. To assess Member State preparedness for a potential EVD outbreak, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific conducted a country preparedness survey and facilitated a simulation exercise in October 2014.
National International Health Regulations Focal Points (IHR) from 23 countries participated in the online survey and two-day simulation exercise. Each simulation covered a five-day scenario, based on a travel-related EVD case.
"This exercise showed that vigilance through effective surveillance and response, timely communication, seamless coordination and strong leadership are keys to responding to a threat of EVD in the Western Pacific," said WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Shin Young-soo.
The Region has been a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases. Lessons learnt from previous outbreaks of SARS and avian influenza suggest countries are better prepared for EVD. However, gaps remain.
Needs for preparedness
The survey and exercise both revealed the need for further investment in surveillance and response system, especially laboratory capacity, risk communications and point of entry (POE) management.
In responding to the survey, less than half of the countries (10 of 23) indicated that in-country testing capacity for EVD is available. This is not unusual as laboratories with adequate biosafety levels are required. However, this highlights the importance of referral arrangements to send specimens for testing to a WHO recognized laboratory. A number of countries (9 of 23) reported that appropriate referral processes are not in place.
Risk communications allow authorities to immediately inform the public of a threat to health security. Most countries responding to the survey (18 of 23) said that they had disseminated EVD-related information and can manage first announcement of a potential or confirmed case. However, the communication products developed during the exercise required some fine-tuning.
EVD is a disease that does not respect borders. Travel-related cases of EVD have occurred in Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Spain and the United States of America. These cases highlight the importance of measures at POEs and functional national surveillance and response systems. Most countries (18 of 23) had developed contingency plans at POEs. However, countries need to focus on improving measures to monitor and manage arriving travellers, and to ensure appropriate EVD-related information is available.
Empowering Member States for today's emerging diseases
WHO and its partners work with countries and areas to strengthen system capacity to detect and rapidly respond to EVD cases or other highly pathogenic diseases.
The survey and simulation exercise were both undertaken within the guiding framework of the International Health Regulations or IHR (2005) and the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases, (APSED) (2010). Work within these global and regional frameworks is continuous, to ensure countries and areas can respond to disease outbreaks and other public health events.
WHO's country offices work with national implementers to strengthen disease surveillance and response systems, and the Regional Office complements this support, for example, through the EVD event management team in Manila. The team helps to ensure that disease surveillance and alert and response systems meet Member State needs. Through a coordinated approach WHO will continue to support countries and areas to prepare for and respond to acute public health events.