International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN)

About International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN):

• It is a public health network to prevent and detect infectious disease threats before they become epidemics or pandemics.
• The IPSN, with a Secretariat hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, brings together experts worldwide at the cutting-edge of genomics and data analytics, from governments, philanthropic foundations, multilateral organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector. 
  • All share a common goal: to detect and respond to disease threats before they become epidemics and pandemics, and to optimize routine disease surveillance.
• IPSN will rely on insights generated from pathogen genomics, which helps analyze the genetic material of viruses, bacteria, and other disease-causing micro-organisms to determine how they spread and how infectious or deadly they may be.
  • Using these data, researchers can identify and track diseases to improve outbreak prevention, response, and treatments.
• Members will work together in dedicated groups focusing on specific challenges, supported by funding through the IPSN to scale up ideas and projects in pathogen genomics. 
• By strengthening the pathogen genomic surveillance ecosystem, the IPSN enables faster detection of new pathogens and enhanced tracking of the spread and evolution of diseases. 

Q1: What is the World Health Organization (WHO)?

WHO, established in 1948, is a specialized agency of the United Nations that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO currently has 194 member states. World Health Assembly (WHA) is the highest decision-making body of WHO and comprises representatives from all member States. 

News: International pathogen surveillance network announces first round of grants towards understanding disease threats