Coronavirus Outbreak Now a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Here's What That Means

The World Health Organization (WHO) took the rare step Thursday of declaring a novel coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). But what does that actually mean?

The WHO defines a PHEIC as an "extraordinary event" that "constitute[s] a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease" and "potentially require[s] a coordinated international response.