Connecting knowledge to action for pandemic preparedness
Communities play a central role in influenza outbreaks. Their actions, such as vaccination uptake, mask use, and care-seeking behaviours—shape the trajectory of epidemics. However, these decisions are influenced by complex health, social and economic factors. To act effectively, communities need timely, credible and understandable information from trusted sources.
The WHO Health Emergencies Information Network for Epidemics (EPI-WIN) addresses this need by connecting global experts with diverse audiences worldwide. It enables direct dialogue between experts and participants, including those in remote or underserved settings, fostering knowledge exchange and building trust. EPI-WIN also brings together a wide range of stakeholders—governments, academia, civil society, health professionals and media—who play critical roles in pandemic preparedness and response.
Scaling global reach and engagement
Since 2024, EPI-WIN has delivered 20 webinars focused on pandemic influenza preparedness and response. Topics include global influenza updates, One Health approaches, clinical management and tools for risk communication and community engagement.
These webinars have reached a wide global audience. Over 41 000 participants registered, with more than 20 000 attending—an average of 1000 participants per session. Participants were from 188 WHO Member States, demonstrating EPI-WIN’s extensive global reach. Countries with the highest participation spanned all WHO regions, with the top 20 countries including Nigeria, United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Indonesia, India, South Africa, Switzerland, the Philippines, Canada, Kenya, Germany, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, France, Pakistan, Uganda, Ghana, Brazil and Italy (in order of participant numbers) reflecting strong engagement across diverse settings.
The audience was highly multidisciplinary. Around 20% of participants were from national or subnational health authorities. Others included clinicians, academics, civil society organizations, professional networks, donors and media representatives—from the global to community level. Gender participation was balanced.
Fostering dialogue and learning
A key strength of EPI-WIN is its interactive format. Across the 20 webinars, participants asked 1063 questions—an average of 56 per session—demonstrating strong engagement and demand for expert guidance. Some sessions generated particularly high interest, including the webinar on “Avian Influenza H5: an update” (139 questions), “Epidemics in winter: influenza and other respiratory viruses” (95 questions), and “Developing a dynamic workforce for One Health: WHO approaches and applications” (93 questions).
Participant feedback confirms the value of these exchanges. Among 5051 respondents to post-webinar surveys, over 92% found the session useful, with only 1% reporting limited usefulness.
Translating knowledge into impact
EPI-WIN’s impact extends beyond knowledge sharing. Almost a fifth of the participants reported using the information to inform national strategies, policies and action plans (18%), as well as for personal knowledge (17%). Importantly, many applied insights to strengthen community awareness (13%), risk communication and community engagement (11%), and training and capacity-building efforts (11%).
The webinars also contributed to research (11%), clinical practice (10%), and academic teaching (7%), supporting the development of future public health leaders. These findings demonstrate how EPI-WIN supports both immediate response and longer-term system strengthening.
Lessons learned and future directions
Over the past 15 years, the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework has emphasized equitable access, partnership and collective action. EPI-WIN exemplifies these principles by democratizing access to knowledge and amplifying diverse voices.
Key lessons include the importance of trusted communication, inclusive engagement across sectors, and the value of real-time dialogue between experts and communities. Moving forward, EPI-WIN will continue to expand its reach, strengthen partnerships and support countries in translating knowledge into action.
By bridging science and communities, EPI-WIN contributes to stronger preparedness, more informed decision-making, and ultimately, lives saved.
Photo caption: EPI-WIN webinar on 18 March 2026
Credit: WHO