BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has introduced a five-year plan aimed at enhancing worldwide outbreak detection capabilities. The initiative aspires for each country to identify and comprehend emerging health dangers within 24 hours by 2030. This strategy was presented during the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin. According to WHO, accelerating detection processes enables earlier public health responses before outbreaks spread extensively across communities or borders. The 24-hour objective establishes a clear global benchmark for surveillance effectiveness.
Led by the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, the strategy will be driven from Berlin, covering the years 2026 through 2030. The Hub, established in 2021 with foundational support from the German government following vulnerabilities revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic, now collaborates with over 160 WHO Member States and 190 partner organizations and networks. Its scope encompasses surveillance, pathogen detection, data analysis, and international cooperation regarding emerging health threats. The Hub functions within the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the Hub has become a vital component of the global health security framework since its inception. The new plan focuses on four main objectives: enhancing surveillance, accelerating detection, improving analysis, and establishing trusted digital foundations. WHO states that the initiative will foster connections among governments, public health agencies, scientists, and technology experts. The organization intends to expand access to rapid threat assessment tools while building on existing systems. Additionally, the strategy highlights transforming health data into actionable information for guiding public health decisions.
Five core initiatives support the strategy
Implementation of the plan will be driven through five interconnected initiatives, which include open-source intelligence, pathogen surveillance, modelling, national monitoring, and digital infrastructure. The Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources system employs artificial intelligence to analyze thousands of public sources daily for potential health threats. WHO reports that over 125 Member States and 30 regional and international organizations are part of this system. The global EIOS community, comprising more than 4,000 experts, supports detection and assessment of health threats. The platform provides participating authorities with real-time information gathered from publicly accessible sources.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network enhances genomic sequencing and bioinformatics capabilities to identify and analyze emerging pathogens. Tedros noted that the network now involves nearly 360 partners across more than 110 countries. The Collaboratory connects more than 2,000 modelling and data science specialists who assist in responding to new threats. The Collaborative Surveillance Initiative operates in over 83 countries, supporting national institutions via a One Health approach. A new 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. Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health has supported this partnership during that period. The alliances leverage WHO’s international role alongside the institute’s expertise in public health and Charité’s clinical and research strengths. The renewed agreements aim to sustain joint efforts that link scientific research with practical public health systems.
WHO states that the 24-hour detection goal is the core objective of its Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence strategy through 2030. The Hub assists nations in developing systems capable of identifying threats and understanding outbreak progression. Its strategy also promotes stronger digital infrastructure, broader analytical cooperation, and improved pathogen surveillance. WHO intends to utilize its 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 facilitated by the Hub.