Since 2005, WHO has declared a PHEIC seven times, including COVID-19 in 2020. The other occasions were due to H1N1 influenza (2009), wild-type polio (2014), Zika virus (2016), Ebola (2013-2015 and 2018-2020), and monkeypox (2022). Polio and monkeypox are still considered PHEIC.

While the state of emergency has been lifted, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over but COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue. The progress made due to vaccinations and measures taken to reduce the spread and the impact of the disease is significant, with a decrease in the number of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. However, the virus is still spreading worldwide and people are still getting infected and sick.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is here to stay, but how the virus will behave and how it will seasonally change is not yet clear. Waves of infection have happened every few months, but hopefully, they will become milder and smaller. Numerous subvariants of Omicron have emerged, but so far, they have not caused more severe illness than the ones before them. The virus changes rapidly, and if a new variant emerges, a new large wave could occur. Therefore, it's crucial to update our preparedness and response plans, monitor the situation, and prepare for the future, including vaccinations. Elderly people and at-risk groups need to be especially protected, and new guidelines include a plan for booster vaccinations for these groups this fall.

While this is a milestone, we must remain vigilant. Although we know much more now than we did at the beginning of the pandemic, we're still learning about this relatively new disease. We need to ensure that we have the capacity and a strong infrastructure to use the knowledge obtained and the experience gained to be even better prepared.

For more information, please see the WHO statement.

The Chief Epidemiologist

*An public health event of international concern (PHEIC) according to the International Health Regulations (IHR) is an unusual or unexpected and serious event (disease) with significant risk for an international spread that is a risk to public health and which could elicit a coordinated, global response. SARS, smallpox, wilt-type polio, and new strains of influenza are always such a threat and do not need to be declared specifically.