BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has announced a target for nations to detect and comprehend new health threats within 24 hours by the year 2030. This objective is central to a fresh 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.
Established in Berlin in 2021, the WHO Pandemic Hub was created in response to significant gaps in global disease surveillance exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The German government provided key support during its inception. Since then, the Hub has collaborated with over 160 WHO Member States and approximately 190 partner organizations and networks. Its efforts involve public health agencies, researchers, and technical experts sharing data, monitoring pathogens, and enhancing epidemic detection systems. The Hub operates under WHO’s 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 goals related to surveillance, detection, analysis, and digital infrastructure. It also seeks to strengthen cooperation among countries and scientific institutions. The Hub intends to expand tools that enable health authorities to assess emerging risks more swiftly. WHO indicates that the strategy builds on lessons learned during the Hub’s first five years and offers a common benchmark for outbreak intelligence worldwide.
Global networks bolster faster outbreak detection
Five key initiatives will underpin the new strategy. Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources scans publicly available information for signals indicative of emerging health threats. Using artificial intelligence, it processes vast amounts of data from open sources. WHO reports that more than 125 Member States and 30 regional and international organizations utilize this platform. Its EIOS community comprises over 4,000 experts. This system assists health authorities in identifying, reviewing, and evaluating information that may require urgent public health action.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network concentrates on genomic sequencing and bioinformatics, now involving nearly 360 partners across over 110 countries. The Collaboratory connects above 2,000 experts in modelling and data science. Additionally, the Collaborative Surveillance Initiative supports efforts in more than 83 countries through a One Health approach. WHO also plans to expand digital tools via a new initiative focused on secure data sharing and responsible artificial intelligence. These programs form the operational backbone of the 2026 to 2030 plan.
Berlin partnerships extended through 2031
The Hub has renewed cooperation agreements with the Robert Koch Institute and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin until 2031. These collaborations cover 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 research and public health expertise. The German Federal Ministry of Health has supported these efforts. The renewed agreements sustain a Berlin-based network dedicated to 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 identify threats rapidly and develop a clearer understanding of how new outbreaks unfold. The strategy also emphasizes strengthening digital systems and increasing access to pathogen intelligence. WHO will continue connecting national authorities with scientists and international partners through existing networks. The 2030 plan prioritizes rapid detection, shared data, and practical public health analysis as central elements of global epidemic preparedness.