Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance - Quarter three report 2026
Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance - Quarter three report 2026 orlunwop@who.int Wed, 07/10/2026 - 12:47 Key messages Laboratory systems as the foundation of epidemic intelligence Deployment of more than 50 000 GeneXpert cartridges decentralized Mpox testing far beyond central reference laboratories, while 46 of 47 Member States now have genomic sequencing capacity. Quality assured,…
The Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance - Quarter three report 2026 highlights the crucial role laboratory systems play in epidemic intelligence. In an impressive effort, over 50,000 GeneXpert cartridges were deployed for decentralized Mpox testing, extending beyond central reference laboratories. A total of 46 out of 47 Member States have now achieved genomic sequencing capacity.
In terms of quality assurance, 51 laboratories across 32 countries demonstrated a remarkable 89.4% detection success rate in the Mpox External Quality Assessment. This showcases the regional standardization of molecular testing. Surveillance efforts have reached every Member State, with 44 participating in the IDSR assessment. By week 52, weekly IDSR data completeness reached 94%, supported by 31 meningitis bulletins and dedicated outbreak analytics.
The report also emphasizes the speed and efficiency of detection processes. In 2025, 126 new signals were identified, with a median detection-to-verification time of only one day. Approximately 74% of outbreaks were detected within seven days of their occurrence. Innovations such as the expanded EIOS and speech-to-text radio mining have further enhanced this capability. Additionally, Weekly Bulletin readership has seen a fourfold growth.
Written by urgent.news from WHO Africa's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
