The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday launched a major upgrade to its global disease surveillance platform, introducing artificial intelligence capabilities designed to detect emerging health threats before they escalate into international crises.
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The enhanced Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, version 2.0, is now operational in more than 110 countries and approximately 30 international organizations, WHO officials announced at the agency’s Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin.
The upgrade comes as recent outbreaks—including COVID-19, mpox, and avian influenza—have underscored the critical importance of early warning systems in preventing localised health emergencies from spiraling into global catastrophes.
Real-Time Threat Monitoring
EIOS operates as an open-source intelligence platform that processes vast quantities of publicly available information in near real-time, enabling public health teams worldwide to identify and respond to potential disease threats on a daily basis. The system analyses data from websites, social media platforms, and now radio broadcasts to detect health events that authorities can subsequently verify and assess.
“We are entering a new phase in how the world collaborates, innovates and responds to health threats,” said Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. “EIOS system version 2.0 is our bridge to the future: more open, more agile and more inclusive.”
First developed in 2017, the platform has steadily expanded its reach and now serves as what WHO describes as the world’s leading open-source intelligence initiative for public health decision-making. The system complements traditional reporting channels such as laboratory results and hospital data, providing health ministries and public health agencies with an additional layer of surveillance.
New AI-Enhanced Capabilities
The version 2.0 release represents the most substantial technological overhaul since the system’s inception, according to WHO. Key improvements include:
Expanded processing power: The rebuilt architecture can handle significantly more data sources and users while enabling faster deployment of new features.
Artificial intelligence integration: Advanced AI tools now power automated analysis and enhance the system’s ability to detect potential health signals within massive datasets.
Diverse information streams: The platform can now process radio channels, which are automatically transcribed and translated, expanding surveillance beyond digital text sources.
Multilingual accessibility: A redesigned interface supports translation into multiple languages, making the system more accessible to non-English-speaking users. A new dashboard layout helps users locate and share critical reports more efficiently.
Enhanced collaboration tools: Public health officials across different countries and organisations can now more easily coordinate their monitoring and tracking of health events.
WHO provides the EIOS system free of charge to member states and eligible organisations as a public good, supported by training programs and communities of practice.
Global Health Security Focus
The system is particularly valuable for monitoring health threats linked to climate change, armed conflicts, and both emerging and re-emerging pathogens, officials said. By analysing public information streams, EIOS helps fill gaps in traditional surveillance systems that may miss early warning signs of outbreaks.
German Health Minister Nina Warken highlighted the importance of transparent data systems in building public trust during health emergencies.
“Better data – better analytics – better decisions, we are excited to launch EIOS 2.0 at the WHO Hub Berlin,” Warken said. “This will mark a milestone to accelerate the detection, analysis and response to health threats.”
The European Union, a key partner in the initiative, has also backed the upgrade. “Detecting public health threats early is essential to prevent new and emerging diseases from becoming endemic, or escalating into a pandemic,” said Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality. “The EU is proud to work closely with WHO to strengthen its public health intelligence system.”
Training and Support
To facilitate the transition to version 2.0, WHO has developed comprehensive support materials including updated user guides, multilingual webinars, and help clinics. An online training course created in partnership with the WHO Academy is also available to organisations implementing the new system.
The launch event brought together long-standing collaborators including the German government, the European Commission, the Joint Research Centre, and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, along with members of the EIOS global Community of Practice.
WHO officials said the enhanced system positions the international community to respond more rapidly and effectively to future health emergencies, building on lessons learned from recent pandemic and epidemic experiences.
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