PAHO - Pan American Health Organization

Purpose

In late December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause was reported by health authorities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. On January 30, 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), and on 11 March 2020, a pandemic. The PAHO and its partners are working with national governments in the Americas and global experts to identify populations most at risk, the transmission of the disease, and the most effective ways to detect, interrupt, and contain human�to�human transmission. With GAC’s support, PAHO is helping vulnerable countries control and respond to COVID-19 cases in the Americas. Project activities include: (1) supporting national authorities in reorganizing their health services to limit human-human transmission within health facilities; (2) ensuring availability of laboratory supplies, reagents and tests; and (3) providing technical expertise to Member States.