WHO Launches Upgraded Disease Intelligence System
On October 13, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of an upgraded version of its Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system — a key digital platform designed to detect potential health threats in real time. The new version integrates artificial intelligence (AI), advanced analytics, and multilingual data processing to enhance early outbreak detection and situational awareness.
“This upgrade marks a major leap in our ability to spot health risks before they escalate,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, during a media briefing in Geneva. “Artificial intelligence, when used responsibly, can become humanity’s ally in preventing the next pandemic.”
The EIOS system currently aggregates over 20,000 online data sources daily, scanning news reports, government bulletins, and scientific publications for emerging disease signals. The new AI layer is expected to cut response times by nearly 30%, according to WHO’s technical documentation.
Public health experts have welcomed the update as a critical step toward a faster, more transparent global response mechanism. “Timely intelligence saves lives,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of WHO’s epidemic preparedness unit. “The ability to recognize early warning signs is what separates containment from catastrophe.”
EU–WHO Partnership to Digitize Health in Africa
Just one day later, on October 14, 2025, the European Union (EU) and WHO announced a landmark €8 million collaboration to advance digital health infrastructure across sub-Saharan Africa between 2025 and 2028. The funding will support WHO’s Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) — a system first established during the COVID-19 pandemic — and help countries modernize cross-border health credentialing and vaccination records.
“Digital health is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” said Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, in Brussels. “This partnership ensures that countries have the tools and technology to respond quickly to health emergencies, no matter where they occur.”
According to WHO, the initiative will focus on improving interoperability between national health databases, enabling faster verification of vaccination and travel health documents. It also aims to train more than 2,000 local health professionals in data management and cybersecurity by 2028.
Dr. Tedros praised the EU’s contribution as “a model of multilateral cooperation in action.” He added, “By connecting countries digitally, we strengthen the world’s first line of defense against future outbreaks.”
Digital Health at the Heart of Global Preparedness
The joint announcements come at a time when digital transformation has become central to public health resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical weaknesses in data sharing and coordination, prompting global institutions to invest heavily in disease intelligence systems.
Experts believe the integration of AI-driven surveillance and digital certification will redefine how the world responds to emerging health threats. “We are entering a new era of preventive health,” said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist, in an interview with Reuters on October 14. “Digital tools, when guided by ethics and equity, can give every country the same fighting chance.”
Both initiatives underscore a broader message from WHO: that global health security depends not just on vaccines and hospitals, but also on information — accurate, timely, and shared across borders. As Dr. Tedros concluded, “Health threats move faster than ever. Our intelligence systems must move faster still.”
