BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has introduced a five-year plan aimed at bolstering worldwide outbreak detection capabilities. The initiative aspires for every nation to identify and comprehend emerging health dangers within 24 hours by 2030. The strategy was revealed during the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin, emphasizing that quicker detection can enable earlier public health responses before outbreaks spread across communities or borders. Establishing a 24-hour detection goal provides a definitive global standard for surveillance performance.
Leading this effort from Berlin will be the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, guiding its strategy from 2026 to 2030. The Hub, which opened in 2021 with initial support from the German government after vulnerabilities revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic, now collaborates with over 160 WHO Member States and 190 partner organizations and networks. Its scope includes surveillance, pathogen detection, data analysis, and international cooperation on emerging health threats. The Hub functions within the framework 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 system since its inception. The new strategy outlines four primary objectives: enhanced surveillance, accelerated detection, improved analysis, and reliable digital infrastructure. WHO indicated that the program aims to connect governments, public health agencies, scientists, and technology experts, building on existing systems while broadening access to rapid threat assessment tools. The strategy also highlights transforming health data into actionable insights for public health decision-making.
Five core initiatives underpin the strategy
The plan will be executed through five interconnected initiatives focusing on open-source intelligence, pathogen monitoring, modeling, national surveillance, and digital platforms. Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources leverages artificial intelligence to scan thousands of public sources daily for potential health threats. WHO reports that over 125 Member States and 30 regional and international organizations utilize this system. Its global EIOS community comprises more than 4,000 experts supporting health threat detection and evaluation. The platform provides participating authorities with real-time access to publicly available information.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network enhances genomic sequencing and bioinformatics capabilities to identify and analyze emerging pathogens. Tedros noted that this network now includes nearly 360 partners across more than 110 countries. The Collaboratory unites over 2,000 modeling and data science specialists who assist in response efforts when new threats emerge. The Collaborative Surveillance Initiative, active in more than 83 countries, supports national agencies through a One Health approach. Additionally, the Digital Enablers initiative will focus on secure data sharing, analysis, and the responsible application of artificial intelligence.
Partnerships in Berlin extended until 2031
The WHO Hub has also renewed agreements with the Robert Koch Institute and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin through 2031. These organizations have collaborated since 2021 on surveillance, genomics, data science, and public health preparedness, with support from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health. The partnerships combine WHO’s international role with the institute’s expertise in public health and Charité’s clinical and research strengths. The renewed agreements continue joint efforts that connect scientific research with practical public health systems.
WHO emphasizes that achieving the 24-hour detection target remains the central goal of its Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence strategy through 2030. The Hub assists countries in developing systems capable of identifying threats and understanding outbreak dynamics. Its strategy also advocates for stronger digital infrastructure, expanded analytical cooperation, and improved pathogen surveillance. WHO intends to leverage its global networks to bolster national capacities for detecting and evaluating new health threats. The organization states that this five-year plan builds upon the initial five years of international collaboration facilitated by the Hub.