WHO Unveils Global Network on Pathogen Genomics to Prevent Another Pandemic

In a resolute effort to safeguard humanity from future infectious disease threats and avert devastating pandemics like COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have announced a groundbreaking initiative: the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN).

How the WHO Handled the COVID Pandemic

It was on December 31, 2019, when the first reports of a new virus reached the World Health Organization (WHO).

It was not until January 12 that the WHO released an extensive set of guidelines for countries to tackle this emerging threat.

Yet, it took an entire month for the WHO to officially declare the COVID-19 outbreak as a global health emergency.

The gravity of the crisis became undeniable on March 11, 2020, when the WHO proclaimed COVID-19 as a worldwide pandemic, marking its first such declaration since the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009.

At the time, more than 500,000 cases had already been recorded, a number that could have been reduced if a better global network for researching emerging diseases had existed.

What the Global Network Is For

This global network aims to harness the power of pathogen genomics, the study of disease-causing organisms' genetic code, to protect people worldwide from infectious diseases.

Pathogen genomics is key to understanding the genetic composition of viruses, bacteria, and other disease-causing organisms.

By unraveling their genetic makeup, scientists and public health officials gain invaluable insights into infectiousness, severity, and transmission patterns. With this knowledge, they can effectively track diseases, prevent outbreaks, and develop targeted treatments and vaccines.

Who Consists the Network

The IPSN, hosted by the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, unites genomics and data analytics experts from governments, philanthropic foundations, multilateral organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector.

This collaborative effort aims to bolster global disease surveillance systems by improving the collection and analysis of samples, facilitating data-driven public health decision-making, and fostering the widespread sharing of vital information.

The Importance of the Global Network

Highlighting the significance of this network, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed, "The vision behind this network is ambitious, yet it plays a crucial role in health security: providing every country with access to pathogen genomic sequencing and analytics as part of its public health system. When the world unites to combat shared health threats, we grow stronger."

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the pivotal role of pathogen genomics in tackling global health crises. Rapid sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 genome was instrumental in developing and distributing effective vaccines. It also enabled early identification of highly transmissible variants of the virus.

Furthermore, genomics serves as a cornerstone for epidemic and pandemic preparedness, ongoing disease surveillance, including foodborne illnesses, influenza, tuberculosis, and HIV. Monitoring HIV drug resistance through genomics has led to life-saving antiretroviral treatments.

Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, emphasized the significance of global collaboration in pathogen genomics, stating, "IPSN builds upon this experience by creating a robust platform for partners across sectors and borders to share knowledge, tools, and practices, ensuring innovative and robust pandemic prevention and response in the future."

Josefina Campos, Director of the National Genomics and Bioinformatics Center at ANLIS Malbrán in Argentina, highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating, "Diseases recognize no borders: a disease threat in one country imperils others as well. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with IPSN members to achieve our shared goal of preventing illness and saving lives."

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