BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has introduced a five-year plan aimed at enhancing global outbreak detection capabilities. The initiative’s primary objective is for every nation to identify and comprehend new health threats within 24 hours by 2030. The strategy was unveiled during the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin, emphasizing that quicker detection can facilitate earlier public health responses before outbreaks spread extensively across communities or borders. Establishing a 24-hour detection target provides a concrete benchmark for worldwide surveillance efforts.
The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence will oversee the implementation of this strategy from Berlin, guiding efforts from 2026 to 2030. Established in 2021 with initial backing from the German government following vulnerabilities revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hub now collaborates with over 160 WHO Member States and 190 partner organizations and networks. Its activities encompass surveillance, pathogen detection, data analysis, and international cooperation on emerging health threats. The Hub functions as a component of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the Hub has become an integral part of the global health security framework since its inception. The new strategy delineates four key objectives: strengthening surveillance, accelerating detection, enhancing analytical capacity, and establishing reliable digital foundations. WHO intends to connect governments, public health agencies, scientists, and technology experts through this program. The organization aims to expand existing systems and broaden access to tools for swift threat assessment. Additionally, the strategy underscores transforming health data into actionable information to inform public health decisions.
Five core initiatives underpin the strategy
The plan will be driven by five interconnected initiatives focused on open-source intelligence, pathogen surveillance, modeling, national monitoring, and digital infrastructure. Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources employs artificial intelligence to analyze thousands of public sources daily for potential health threats. WHO reports that this system supports more than 125 Member States and 30 regional and international organizations. Its global EIOS community includes over 4,000 experts dedicated to health threat detection and evaluation. The platform provides participating authorities with real-time information derived from publicly available sources.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network enhances capabilities in genomic sequencing and bioinformatics, aiding in the identification and understanding of emerging pathogens. Tedros mentioned that the network now involves nearly 360 partners across over 110 countries. The Collaboratory links more than 2,000 modeling and data science specialists who can assist in response efforts when new threats emerge. The Collaborative Surveillance Initiative operates in over 83 countries, supporting national institutions via a One Health approach. A newly introduced Digital Enablers initiative will focus on secure data sharing, analysis, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Partnerships in Berlin extended through 2031
The WHO Hub has renewed agreements with the Robert Koch Institute and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin through 2031. These collaborations, ongoing since 2021, focus on surveillance, genomics, data science, and public health preparedness, supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health. The partnerships leverage WHO’s global role alongside the institute’s expertise in public health and Charité’s clinical and research strengths. The renewed agreements continue joint efforts to bridge scientific research with practical public health systems.
According to WHO, achieving the 24-hour detection goal is the central aim of its Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence strategy through 2030. The Hub assists countries in establishing systems capable of threat identification and understanding outbreak dynamics. The strategy also advocates for stronger digital infrastructure, broader analytical collaboration, and improved pathogen surveillance. WHO intends to utilize its worldwide networks to bolster national capacities for detecting and evaluating new health threats. The five-year plan builds upon the first five years of international cooperation led by the Hub.