Global public health agencies are stepping up efforts to bolster preparedness and response capacity in the face of evolving health threats and emerging risks. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently upgraded its Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, incorporating new data streams and artificial intelligence to enhance early detection of health threats across more than 110 countries—significantly improving global surveillance and decision-making.
In addition, WHO has been coordinating international activities to test and improve emergency response systems. In April 2025, a multi-national simulation exercise called Exercise Polaris brought together over 15 countries and more than 20 regional health agencies to test a new coordination framework for pandemic response, demonstrating how shared preparedness strengthens collective resilience.
Regional initiatives are also advancing preparedness efforts. In the Caribbean, a virtual learning series helped 12 countries update National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plans, focusing on coordinated surveillance, clinical care, risk communication, and access to countermeasures. Meanwhile, countries such as Iraq are developing comprehensive community-level protection strategies and pandemic preparedness plans with WHO support.
Public health workforce training is another priority, with programs in South and Southeast Asia expanding field epidemiology skills to detect and respond to outbreaks more effectively.
