BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has established a target for nations to recognize and analyze new health risks within 24 hours by 2030. This objective is a key component of a new five-year plan for its Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, unveiled during the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin. The strategy emphasizes earlier outbreak detection, enhanced surveillance, and quicker analysis of health data, covering the period from 2026 to 2030.
The WHO Pandemic Hub, established in Berlin in 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic’s exposure of critical gaps in global disease monitoring, received initial support from the German government. Since its inception, the Hub has collaborated with over 160 WHO Member States and approximately 190 partner organizations and networks. Its work involves public health agencies, researchers, and technical experts working together to share data, track pathogens, and enhance early detection systems for potential epidemics. WHO administers 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 framework since its launch. The 2030 strategy outlines objectives related to surveillance, detection, analysis, and digital infrastructure, while also aiming to foster better cooperation among countries and scientific institutions. The Hub intends to expand tools that enable health authorities to evaluate emerging risks more swiftly. WHO emphasizes that the strategy builds on lessons learned during the Hub’s first five years and provides countries with a shared benchmark for outbreak intelligence.
International networks bolster rapid detection efforts
Supporting the new strategy are five major initiatives. Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources scans public information for signals that could indicate emerging health threats, utilizing artificial intelligence to analyze large volumes of data from publicly accessible 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 assists health authorities in discovering, reviewing, and assessing information that may require urgent public health attention.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network centers on genomic sequencing and bioinformatics, now involving 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 through a One Health approach. WHO also plans to broaden digital tools via a new initiative focused on secure data sharing and responsible artificial intelligence. These programs constitute the operational backbone of the 2026 to 2030 plan.
Partnerships in Berlin extend through 2031
The Hub has renewed cooperation agreements with the Robert Koch Institute and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin until 2031. These collaborations encompass public health surveillance, pathogen genomics, artificial intelligence, and data science. Their partnership with WHO has been ongoing since the early years of the Berlin-based Hub, combining international health coordination with national research and public health expertise. Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health supports this broader alliance, ensuring a Berlin-centered network for research, analysis, and preparedness activities.
WHO states that its 24-hour target will steer the Hub’s efforts through the end of the decade. The organization aims for countries to promptly identify threats and develop a clearer understanding of how outbreaks unfold. The strategy also emphasizes the importance of robust digital systems and expanded access to pathogen intelligence. WHO will continue connecting national authorities with scientists and international partners through existing networks. The 2030 vision of the Hub emphasizes rapid detection, shared data, and practical public health analysis as core components of global epidemic readiness.