BERLIN, GERMANY / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has established a goal for nations to identify and understand new health threats within 24 hours by 2030. This target is at the core of a new five-year plan for its Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, which was introduced during the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin. The strategy emphasizes earlier detection of outbreaks, enhanced surveillance systems, and quicker analysis of health data, covering the years from 2026 to 2030.
The WHO Pandemic Hub was launched in Berlin in 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic’s exposure of significant gaps in global disease monitoring. The German government provided essential support for this initiative. Since then, the Hub has collaborated with over 160 WHO Member States and roughly 190 partner organizations and networks. Its work unites public health agencies, researchers, and technical specialists, who share data, track pathogens, and work to improve epidemic detection systems. 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 framework since its inception. The 2030 strategy outlines objectives related to surveillance, detection, analysis, and digital infrastructure. It also seeks to strengthen cooperation among countries and scientific institutions. The Hub intends to expand its tools to enable health authorities to evaluate emerging risks more swiftly. WHO notes that the strategy builds upon lessons learned during the Hub’s first five years and offers countries a common benchmark for outbreak intelligence.
Global networks bolster rapid outbreak identification
Five key initiatives will underpin the new strategy. Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources monitors public information for signals indicating potential health threats, utilizing artificial intelligence to process vast amounts of data from publicly available 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 locating, reviewing, and assessing information that may warrant increased public health attention.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network concentrates on genomic sequencing and bioinformatics, now involving nearly 360 partners across over 110 nations. The Collaboratory links more than 2,000 specialists in modelling and data science. Additionally, the Collaborative Surveillance Initiative supports efforts in over 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 strategy.
Partnerships in Berlin extend through 2031
The Hub has renewed cooperation agreements with the Robert Koch Institute and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin through 2031. These partnerships encompass public health surveillance, pathogen genomics, artificial intelligence, and data science. Both organizations have collaborated with WHO since the early days of the Berlin-based Hub. Their joint efforts merge international health coordination with national research and public health expertise. Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health has supported these wider collaborations. 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 activities through the end of the decade. The organization aims for countries to promptly identify threats and develop a clearer understanding of how new outbreaks evolve. The strategy also promotes stronger digital systems and expanded access to pathogen intelligence. WHO will continue connecting national authorities with scientists and international partners via existing networks. The Hub’s 2030 plan emphasizes rapid detection, shared data, and practical public health analysis as central to global epidemic preparedness.