New network to rapidly detect threats posed by emerging infectious diseases. Will be based on genomics, which consists of sequencing the genome of viruses, bacteria and other pathogens.
Data collected will feed into a broader surveillance system to identify infectious diseases and threats in order to intervene to prevent their spread and to develop treatments and vaccines. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the new scheme as "ambitious", stressing that it could play "a vital role for health security"