The WHO Upgrades Public Health Intelligence System

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with key partners and supporters, today launched version 2.0 of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, used globally for the early detection of public health threats.

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.

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).

"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 Program, in a media release.

"IOS system version 2.0 is our bridge to the future: more open, more agile, and more inclusive."

Advanced features include, but are not limited to, the following:

Built for growth: The system has been rebuilt to process more sources, accommodate more users, and enable the rapid addition of new features.

AI integration: Implementation of the latest AI-powered tools, enhancing automated analysis and signal detection.

Variety of sources: The tool can now process additional sources, such as radio channels, which are automatically transcribed and translated.

More straightforward and multilingual interface: The new interface can be translated into multiple languages, making it more accessible for non-English speakers, and a new dashboard view helps users find and share the most relevant reports more quickly.

Better collaboration: Users across countries and organizations can now track and monitor events more easily and jointly.

WHO offers the EIOS system as a public good, free of charge to its Member States and eligible organizations, and supports them with training and communities of practice.

To support Member States and organizations during the roll-out of version 2.0, updated guides, multilingual webinars, and help clinics have been made available, along with an online training course developed in collaboration with the WHO Academy.