Global Disease Detection And Prevention Network Launched By WHO

(CTN News) – As part of its efforts to protect populations from infectious diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) has teamed up with partners to unveil a global network that utilizes pathogen genomics.

In addition to functioning as a platform linking nations and regions, the newly launched International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) also aims to bolster systems for data-driven decision making in public health and widespread information sharing.

In pathogen genomics, the genetic code of viruses, bacteria, and other disease-causing organisms is studied in order to gain a deeper understanding of their infectiousness, fatality, and transmission patterns.

By using this valuable information, scientists and public health officials can identify and monitor diseases, thereby facilitating the development of effective treatments and vaccines, as well as preventing outbreaks and responding to them within a comprehensive disease surveillance framework.

It is staffed by experts in genomics and data analytics from a variety of sectors, including governments, philanthropic foundations, multilateral organizations, civil society groups, academia, and the private sector.

IPSN is headquartered at the WHO Hub for Pandemic Disease and Epidemic Intelligence.

Detecting and responding to disease threats before they escalate into epidemics or pandemics, and optimizing routine disease surveillance activities are the objectives shared by all stakeholders.

As WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the network’s ambitious yet vital role, stating that “the goal of this new network is to ensure that every country has access to pathogen genomic sequencing and analytics as part of its public health system.”

When united against shared health threats, the world is stronger, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

As a response to global health crises, pathogen genomics has played a crucial role in addressing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is currently continuing across the globe.

There has been tremendous progress made towards developing and deploying effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 as a result of a rapid sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 genome.

As a result of genomic research, new, more highly transmissible strains of the virus have also been identified.

A genomic analysis is at the heart of robust epidemic and pandemic preparedness, response, as well as the surveillance of various diseases such as foodborne illnesses, influenza, tuberculosis, and HIV that lie at the heart of robust epidemic and pandemic preparedness.

The use of this technology in monitoring the spread of HIV drug resistance has contributed to the development of life-saving antiretroviral drugs.

Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, highlighted the importance of global collaboration in pathogen genomic surveillance during the COVID-19 outbreak.

To ensure innovative and resilient pandemic prevention and response efforts in the future, he commended the IPSN’s objective of fostering knowledge sharing, tools, and best practices among partners across sectors and borders.

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