BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has introduced a five-year plan aimed at enhancing worldwide outbreak detection capabilities. This initiative aspires for every nation to identify and comprehend emerging health risks within 24 hours by the year 2030. The strategy was revealed during the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin, with the WHO emphasizing that quicker detection can facilitate earlier public health responses, preventing outbreaks from spreading across communities or crossing borders. Establishing a 24-hour detection goal provides a definitive global benchmark for surveillance readiness.
Leading this effort from Berlin is the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, which will guide activities from 2026 through 2030 according to its strategic plan. Established in 2021 with foundational backing from the German government following vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hub now collaborates with over 160 WHO Member States and 190 partner organizations and networks. Its scope includes surveillance, pathogen detection, data analysis, and fostering 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 centered on enhancing surveillance, expediting detection, improving analytical processes, and establishing trusted digital foundations. WHO has articulated that the initiative will connect governments, public health agencies, scientists, and technology experts, aiming to build upon existing systems while broadening access to tools for swift threat assessment. An emphasis is also placed on transforming health data into actionable insights to inform public health decisions.
Five core initiatives form the foundation of the strategy
The strategy will be executed through five interconnected initiatives that encompass open-source intelligence, pathogen surveillance, modeling, national monitoring, and digital infrastructure. The Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources employs artificial intelligence to analyze thousands of public data sources daily for potential health threats. WHO reports that this system supports over 125 Member States along with 30 regional and international organizations. Its global EIOS community comprises more than 4,000 experts dedicated to health threat detection and evaluation. The platform provides participating authorities with access to real-time information derived from publicly available sources.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network enhances capabilities in genomic sequencing and bioinformatics to better identify and understand emerging pathogens. Tedros highlighted that the network now includes nearly 360 partners across more than 110 countries. The Collaboratory brings together over 2,000 modeling and data science specialists who can assist responses to new threats. The Collaborative Surveillance Initiative operates in over 83 countries and supports national institutions through a One Health approach. Additionally, a new Digital Enablers initiative aims to promote secure data sharing, analysis, and the responsible application of artificial intelligence.
Partnerships in Berlin extended through 2031
The WHO Hub has also renewed agreements with the Robert Koch Institute and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin through 2031, continuing collaborations that began in 2021 in areas such as surveillance, genomics, data science, and public health preparedness. Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health has supported these partnerships during this period. The alliances combine WHO’s global leadership with the institute’s public health expertise and Charité’s clinical and research strengths, maintaining a continuous link between scientific research and practical health system applications.
WHO emphasizes that the 24-hour detection target remains the primary focus of its Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence strategy through 2030. The Hub’s role is to assist countries in developing systems capable of identifying threats and gaining a deeper understanding of outbreak dynamics. The strategy also advocates for strengthening digital infrastructure, expanding analytical cooperation, and enhancing pathogen surveillance. WHO intends to leverage its extensive global networks to bolster national capacities for detecting and evaluating new health threats. The five-year plan builds upon the initial five years of international collaboration by the Hub, aiming to solidify and expand these efforts.