Global Health Governance, Human Rights, and the Control of Infectious Diseases: A Case of the Ebola Epidemic in West Africa
No Thumbnail Available
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IGI Global
Abstract
Description
The human right to the highest attainable standard of health has both a legal and normative basis. The
legal foundations derive from a range of international agreements and declarations while the normative
basis is rooted in humanitarianism. Alongside the rights‐based declarations came the growing
recognition of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, as ill effects of globalization and potential
risk to peace and development. The threats posed by infectious diseases like the Ebola virus disease
(EVD) are now seen as universally relevant, as the speed and volume of international travel has made an
outbreak or epidemic anywhere in the world a potential threat anywhere else. The question then arises
as to where individual freedom is given up in the protection of the collective interest and national
security of states. This chapter examines these right issues, with respect to the Ebola outbreak in West
Africa, as they collide with state actions to combat infectious diseases.
Keywords
H Social Sciences (General)