Welcome to the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence newsletter! This month, we send you a special edition focused on the annual report of the WHO Hub in Berlin, highlighting the impact of our work in 2024.
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The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in 2024
As an integral part of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, the WHO Hub in Berlin plays a crucial role in supporting Member States in strengthening their capability to detect risks earlier, fostering collaboration in data sharing and joint analysis, and enhancing decision-making.
In 2024, the WHO Hub rapidly scaled up its operations and accelerated implementation across all initiatives. We worked closely with more than 150 Member States and 210 partner organizations and networks through key initiatives to strengthen surveillance and intelligence systems globally.
Collaborative Surveillance
Health emergencies require answers to a complex set of questions that traditional surveillance systems alone cannot fully answer but rather require the agile triangulation of many surveillance inputs. That’s why the Hub’s work is guided by the concept of Collaborative Surveillance, “the systematic strengthening of capacity and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, both within and beyond the health sector, with the ultimate goal of enhancing public health intelligence and improving evidence for decision-making”.
In 2024 we scaled up our key initiatives:
The Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) initiative scaled up to 103 Member States and 28 organizations, improving real-time detection by continuously scanning open sources for health threats.
The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) has grown to 235 partners in 85 Member States and has established a US$ 4 million catalytic grant fund to strengthen pathogen surveillance in low- and middle-income countries.
The Decision Support Simulator for Epidemics and Pandemics is on track to deliver a working prototype by early 2025, modeling disease transmission and the impact of interventions to support policymaking.
The Collaboratory now connects more than 600 analysts from over 100 institutions in more than 50 countries and promotes global collaboration on outbreak analytics.
Through its efforts to strengthen national health agencies, the Hub has supported 114 countries in establishing or improving their national agencies, enhancing emergency preparedness and response worldwide.
Fostering Collaborations
A core principle of the Hub’s mission has been to create a physical space dedicated to collaboration and exchange. In just three years, we have established a fully operational, dynamic campus for global health activities in Berlin, welcoming thousands of visitors each year.
The Hub within Germany’s global health ecosystem
Berlin has proven to be an ideal location for the Hub, with its vibrant global health ecosystem and strong research and public health institutions. In 2024, the Hub deepened its collaboration with its two foundational partners, the Center for Global Health at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Robert Koch Institute, as well as with the World Health Summit, which brings together leading experts in global health each year. Germany’s support for the Hub has had a multiplier effect, attracting new donors and collaborators and strengthening the Hub’s reputation as a centre for global thought leadership. In turn, the Hub's work contributes to the country's policy priorities and supports Germany in its work to strengthen global public health policy and practice.
Looking ahead
In 2024, the WHO Hub has made significant strides in supporting countries, fostering collaboration and strengthening global surveillance systems. Moving forward, we remain committed to working with our partners to advance the implementation of Collaborative Surveillance and improve our preparedness for emerging health threats.
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