BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has introduced a five-year plan aimed at enhancing worldwide outbreak detection. The initiative seeks to enable every nation to identify and understand emerging health risks within 24 hours by 2030. WHO presented this strategy during the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin. The organization emphasized that quicker detection can facilitate earlier public health responses before outbreaks spread across communities or borders. Achieving the 24-hour detection target provides a tangible global standard for surveillance capabilities.
The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence will spearhead efforts from Berlin, following its strategy from 2026 to 2030. Established in 2021 with initial support from the German government following vulnerabilities revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hub now collaborates with more than 160 WHO Member States and 190 partner organizations and networks. Its scope includes surveillance, pathogen identification, data analysis, and international cooperation on emerging health threats. The Hub functions within the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the Hub has become a vital part of the global health security system since its inception. The new strategy outlines four main objectives: strengthening surveillance, accelerating detection, enhancing analysis, and establishing reliable digital foundations. WHO intends for the program to connect governments, public health agencies, scientists, and technology experts. It aims to build upon existing systems while expanding access to tools that enable rapid threat assessment. The strategy also highlights transforming health data into actionable information for public health decision-making.
Five key initiatives support the strategy
The plan will be implemented through five interconnected initiatives covering open-source intelligence, pathogen surveillance, modeling, national surveillance, and digital infrastructure. Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources employs artificial intelligence to scan thousands of public sources daily for potential health threats. WHO reports that the system currently serves more than 125 Member States and 30 regional and international organizations. Its global EIOS community comprises over 4,000 experts who assist with health threat detection and evaluation. This platform provides participating authorities with real-time information from publicly available sources.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network enhances capabilities in genomic sequencing and bioinformatics to identify and analyze emerging pathogens. Tedros mentioned that the network now includes nearly 360 partners across more than 110 countries. The Collaboratory connects over 2,000 modeling and data science specialists who can support response efforts as new threats emerge. The Collaborative Surveillance Initiative operates in more than 83 countries, supporting national institutions through a One Health approach. Additionally, a new Digital Enablers initiative will focus on secure data sharing, analysis, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Partnerships in Berlin extended until 2031
The WHO Hub renewed agreements with the Robert Koch Institute and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin through 2031. Since 2021, these organizations have collaborated on surveillance, genomics, data science, and public health preparedness, with support from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health. These partnerships combine WHO’s global role with the institute’s public health expertise and Charité’s clinical and research strengths. The renewed agreements sustain joint efforts linking scientific research to practical public health systems.
WHO emphasizes that the 24-hour detection goal remains the core objective of its Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence strategy through 2030. The Hub assists countries in developing systems capable of identifying threats and understanding outbreak progression. The strategy also promotes stronger digital infrastructure, broader analytical cooperation, and improved pathogen surveillance. WHO will leverage its worldwide networks to bolster national capabilities for detecting and evaluating new health threats. The organization states that this five-year plan builds upon the first five years of the Hub’s international collaboration efforts.