A sign of the World Health Organization at their headquarters in Geneva. Photo: VCG

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday launched a global data hub in Berlin to analyze information on emerging pandemic threats, filling the gaps exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence was inaugurated in the German capital by Chancellor Angela Merkel and WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who said it would fill "a gap in the world's defences."

"The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining crisis of our time. It has taught the world many painful lessons. One of the most clear is the need for new powerful systems and tools for global surveillance to collect, analyze and disseminate data on outbreaks," Ghebreyesus said. 

"With the right information, countries and communities can stay ahead of emerging risks and save lives," he said.

The data hub, which has received initial funding from Germany, is set to bring together experts from various disciplines in Berlin to analyze data quickly in order to predict, prevent, detect, prepare for and respond to risks worldwide.

The hub will try to get ahead of the game, looking for early warning signs that go beyond current systems that monitor publicly available information for emerging outbreaks.

AFP