UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern; Africa CDC Declares Public Health Emergency of Continental Security

Q1. The International Health Regulations that empower the WHO Director-General to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) were adopted in which one of the following years?

  • A. 1969
  • B. 2005
  • C. 2007
  • D. 2016

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) mechanism under the International Health Regulations (2005). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The final determination of a PHEIC is made by the WHO Director-General.
  2. Temporary Recommendations issued during a PHEIC automatically expire three months after their issuance.
  3. A PHEIC is defined as an extraordinary event constituting a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease.
  4. The IHR Emergency Committee, and not the Director-General, makes the final decision to declare a PHEIC.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 3 only

Q3. With reference to the 2026 Ebola outbreak that was declared a PHEIC, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is NOT correct?

  1. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
  2. The affected countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
  3. WHO declared it a PHEIC on 17 May 2026.
  4. WHO's PHEIC declaration preceded the joint outbreak declaration by the two affected countries.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 3

Q4. Following the PHEIC declaration for the 2026 Ebola (Bundibugyo) outbreak, the Temporary Recommendations to States Parties were issued through which one of the following WHO bodies?

  • A. IHR (2005) Emergency Committee
  • B. Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE)
  • C. World Health Assembly
  • D. WHO Executive Board

Q5. The Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) for the 2026 Ebola outbreak was declared by which one of the following institutions?

  • A. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
  • B. WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO)
  • C. African Union Peace and Security Council
  • D. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Q6. With reference to the Africa CDC and the Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is NOT correct?

  1. Africa CDC declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak a PHECS on 18 May 2026.
  2. The PHECS is a continental-level emergency instrument distinct from WHO's PHEIC.
  3. Africa CDC is a public health agency of the African Union.
  4. A PHECS is declared under the International Health Regulations (2005).
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4

Q7. Of the identified species of the ebolavirus, how many are documented to cause severe illness and death in humans?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five