Canada’s Violation of International Law during the 2014–16 Ebola Outbreak

AbstractThe devastating 2014–16 West African Ebola outbreak challenged the authority of the World Health Organization (WHO) to enforce the legally bindingInternational Health Regulations(IHR) that govern pandemic responses. Under Article 43 of theIHR, states parties can only implement additional health measures beyond the WHO’s recommendations if public health rationales or scientific evidence justify such measures. Yet at least fifty-eight states parties enacted additional health measures, mainly travel restrictions to or from Ebola-affected countries. This article explains why Canada’s visa restrictions targeting Ebola-affected countries failed to meet theIHR’s requirements and therefore violated international law. Specifically, Canada’s response went against public health authorities’ consensus views, the best available scientific evidence on disease transmission, and the WHO’s recommendations. In light of its traditional role as a global health champion, Canada must lead by example and abide by international law, including theIHR, instead of picking and choosing which rules to follow and thereby encouraging other countries to do the same.

Canada’s Violation of International Law during the 2014–16 Ebola Outbreak Journal Articles