Today, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with key partners and supporters, launched version 2.0 of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, used globally for the early detection of public health threats.
Since its development in 2017, the initiative has grown steadily and is now being used by more than 110 Member States and around 30 organizations and networks around the world.
The update incorporates new data sources and improved functionalities, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI).Hosted at the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin, EIOS is the world’s leading initiative for open-source intelligence for public health decision-making.
It helps public health teams detect and respond to potential threats daily by analyzing large volumes of publicly available information in near real time. “Today, we are not just celebrating the launch of a new version of a system, we are entering a new phase in how the world collaborates, innovates and responds to health threats,” said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. “EIOS system version 2.0 is our bridge to the future: more open, more agile and more inclusive.”Recent health emergencies, such as the COVID‑19 pandemic, and the mpox and avian influenza outbreaks, have demonstrated how critical early detection is to prevent outbreaks from escalating into global crises.
Read more on who.int