Member States, national health authorities, donors and partners including international organizations, academia, industry and civil society were invited to join a consultation on the development of the global genomic surveillance strategy for pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential.
In May 2021 WHO Member States adopted Resolution 74.7 urging countries to increase their capacity to detect new threats including through laboratory techniques, such as genomic sequencing. As waves of COVID-19 disease transmission continue, there is global impetus to strengthen genomic surveillance and real-time tracking of pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential as a key component of public health intelligence for decision making and action.
Recognizing the global momentum and clear need for stronger cross-cutting pathogen sequencing and bioinformatics, WHO is coordinating the development of the global strategy. The strategy aims to provide a high-level vision to strengthen and scale genomic surveillance for quality, timely and appropriate public health actions in local to global systems.
This virtual consultation facilitated exchange of information through panel sessions discussing the 5 strategy objectives:
- Improve access to tools for better geographic representation
- Strengthen the workforce to deliver at speed, scale and quality
- Enhance data utility for streamlined local to global public health decision making and action
- Maximize connectivity for timely value add in the broader surveillance architecture
- Maintain a readiness posture for emergencies
Stakeholders have been invited to review the draft strategy, which was posted on this webpage between 1st to the 15th December 2021.
See the agenda for the meeting here.
See the meeting report here.
See consultation presentation here.
Watch the consultation webinar click here.