World Health Assembly Boosts Rapid Emergency Response

GENEVA—

The World Health Assembly has approved reforms that will increase the U.N. health agency's ability to respond rapidly and more effectively to health emergencies. In Geneva, a panel of experts discussed how new measures will help countries tackle emergencies, such as Ebola, Zika, and yellow fever.

Material to prevent Zika infection by mosquitoes are displayed at the 69th World Health Assembly at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, May 23, 2016

Piecemeal reforms of the emergency health system have been under way for years; but, it was the unprecedented Ebola epidemic in West Africa that triggered a serious overhaul of the World Health Organization's method of response.

While Ebola was declared in Guinea in March 2014, it took the WHO five months and many deaths before it pronounced Ebola an international public health emergency. Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, was an early and vocal critic of the agency's slow response to Ebola — a disease that killed more than 11,000 people by the time it was declared over in December. 

publish - Lisa SchleinMay 27, 2016

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