BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has announced a new target for nations to identify and understand emerging health threats within 24 hours by the year 2030. This goal is a central part of a five-year plan for WHO’s Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. The organization introduced this strategy during the World Health Summit 2026 held in Berlin. Its focus is on earlier detection of outbreaks, enhanced surveillance, and quicker analysis of health data. The strategy spans from 2026 to 2030.
The WHO Pandemic Hub was established in Berlin in 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed significant gaps in global disease monitoring. The German government provided essential support for this effort. Since its inception, the Hub has collaborated with over 160 WHO Member States and nearly 190 partner organizations and networks. Its activities bring together public health agencies, researchers, and technical experts. They share data, track pathogens, and work to improve systems for early epidemic detection. The WHO manages the Hub through its broader Health Emergencies Programme.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the Hub has become an integral part of the global health security infrastructure since its launch. The 2030 strategy outlines objectives related to surveillance, detection, analysis, and digital infrastructure. It also emphasizes strengthening cooperation between countries and scientific institutions. The Hub aims to expand tools that assist health authorities in assessing emerging risks more rapidly. WHO notes that the strategy builds on lessons learned from the Hub’s first five years and provides countries with a common benchmark for outbreak intelligence.
International networks bolster rapid outbreak detection
Five key initiatives will underpin this new strategy. Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources monitors public information for signals of emerging health threats. It employs artificial intelligence to analyze large data volumes from publicly available sources. WHO reports that more than 125 Member States and 30 regional and international organizations utilize this platform. Its EIOS community includes over 4,000 experts. This system aids health authorities in discovering, reviewing, and evaluating information that may require urgent public health attention.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network emphasizes genomic sequencing and bioinformatics. It now involves nearly 360 partners across over 110 countries. The Collaboratory connects more than 2,000 specialists in modeling and data science. Additionally, the Collaborative Surveillance Initiative supports efforts in over 83 countries using a One Health approach. WHO also plans to enhance digital tools through a new initiative dedicated to secure data sharing and responsible artificial intelligence. These programs serve as the operational backbone for the 2026 to 2030 strategy.
Partnerships in Berlin to Extend through 2031
The Hub has renewed cooperation agreements with the Robert Koch Institute and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin through 2031. These collaborations cover areas such as public health surveillance, pathogen genomics, artificial intelligence, and data science. Both organizations have worked with WHO since the early days of the Berlin-based Hub. Their partnership combines international health coordination with national expertise in research and public health. The German Federal Ministry of Health has supported this expanded collaboration. These renewed agreements ensure a continued Berlin-based network for research, analysis, and preparedness activities.
WHO states that its 24-hour detection target will steer the Hub’s efforts through the end of the decade. The organization aims for countries to identify threats swiftly and develop a clearer understanding of how new outbreaks unfold. The strategy also advocates for more robust digital systems and wider access to pathogen intelligence. WHO will maintain links between national authorities, scientists, and international partners via existing networks. The Hub’s 2030 plan prioritizes rapid detection, data sharing, and practical public health analysis as core elements of global epidemic preparedness.