Governments across the Western Pacific are strengthening systems to manage health information during emergencies, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting measurable gains in risk communication and community engagement capacity under sustained pandemic preparedness investments.

In a feature released on April 17, WHO said countries in the Western Pacific Region have increasingly institutionalised evidence-based approaches to communication, as the rapid spread of informationoften accompanied by misinformation poses a growing challenge during health crises.

The organisation said effective communication systems are critical to ensuring that populations receive timely, accurate and actionable guidance during outbreaks.According to WHO, progress in strengthening risk communication and community engagement, commonly referred to as RCCE, has been supported by financing under the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework Partnership Contribution.

These investments have enabled collaboration between WHO and national governments to embed RCCE into broader pandemic preparedness strategies.Improvements are reflected in findings from the State Party Self-Assessment Annual Report, a monitoring tool used to evaluate national capacities under the International Health Regulations.

WHO said that since 2012, average RCCE scores across the region have increased by seven points, indicating steady progress. Countries in the Mekong subregion recorded a significantly larger improvement, with scores rising by 38 points following targeted technical assistance supported through PIP funding.WHO said these gains demonstrate how sustained and predictable investment can translate into stronger institutional capacity and improved resilience at both national and regional levels.

The organisation noted that a key focus has been the integration of social and behavioural insights into communication strategies, allowing authorities to better understand how populations perceive and respond to health risks.Consultations among member states identified the need for practical tools to support this shift, leading to the rollout of the Behavioural Research and Intelligence for Directed Guidance in Emergencies, or BRIDGE, approach across the region.

WHO describes BRIDGE as a framework comprising technical tools for data collection, alongside networks spanning academia, media, healthcare professionals and community organisations.The approach is designed to incorporate socio-cultural and behavioural data into preparedness planning, enabling health authorities to translate public perceptions and behaviours into targeted communication strategies during emergencies.

WHO said this has contributed to more coordinated and consistent messaging across countries in the region.As part of this effort, WHO has introduced tools for social listening, including an online monitoring system that allows countries to track health-related rumours, misinformation and public concerns in real time.

The platform, supported by a regional dashboard, has been made accessible to all member states, with training provided to national health authorities.According to WHO, member states produced more than 145 infodemic insight reports in 2025, focusing on COVID-19 and seasonal influenza.

These reports are used to identify information gaps and guide communication strategies aimed at addressing public concerns and countering misinformation.Countries receiving targeted support under the PIP framework have applied these tools in outbreak responses.

WHO said ministries of health in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam have developed the capacity to conduct social listening and generate real-time insights. In Lao PDR, these capabilities were deployed during a dengue outbreak in 2025, while Cambodia used social listening data to adjust its community response during an avian influenza A(H5N1) outbreak the same year.

WHO noted that insights indicating low perceived risk among communities were incorporated into public messaging and outreach efforts.The organisation said these initiatives have contributed to the institutionalisation of evidence-based RCCE practices across the region. Countries are increasingly integrating mechanisms to address misinformation and disinformation into pandemic preparedness plans and standard operating procedures.

In Cambodia, health authorities, WHO and partner organisations have collaborated to develop new procedures for managing health-related misinformation. Dr Srey Teng, Deputy Director of Cambodia’s Communicable Disease Control Department, said the approach is centred on early engagement and coordinated messaging.

“An infodemic can be managed when we listen to the public and communities, act on evidence and speak with one voice,” Teng said in the WHO report, adding that timely responses are essential to prevent misinformation from spreading.WHO said technical support under the PIP framework has enabled countries to embed these practices into national systems, ensuring that communication strategies are not limited to emergency response but form part of ongoing preparedness efforts.

This includes the integration of social listening and infodemic management into official planning documents and operational guidelines.In Tonga, WHO support contributed to the development of a National Multi-Hazard Risk Communication and Community Engagement Strategy, reflecting a broader shift towards formalising communication frameworks across the region.

WHO said the evolving information environment, characterised by rapid dissemination of both accurate and misleading content, underscores the need for sustained investment in communication systems.

Strengthened RCCE capacities are intended to enable governments to identify emerging concerns earlier, respond more effectively and maintain public trust during health emergencies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says countries across the Eastern Mediterranean are steadily strengthening systems to detect and respond to respiratory diseases, even as conflict, displacement and political instability continue to strain public health infrastructure.

In a feature released on April 17, WHO described the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) as one of the most complex operating environments for infectious disease preparedness. The region comprises 22 countries and more than 700 million people, with frequent outbreaks ranging from seasonal influenza to zoonotic infections and other respiratory illnesses with epidemic potential.

WHO data show that more than half of these countries are affected by prolonged crises, including armed conflict and humanitarian emergencies, resulting in large-scale population displacement that complicates surveillance and service delivery.The region’s geographic position along major migratory bird pathways and international travel corridors gives it added importance in global influenza monitoring.

Viruses detected in EMR countries are routinely shared with international networks, contributing to global risk assessments and informing seasonal vaccine composition through the WHO-led Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.WHO attributes much of the region’s progress to the implementation of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, adopted in 2011 to improve global readiness for influenza pandemics.

At the time of its introduction, surveillance coverage and laboratory capacity across the EMR varied significantly, and most countries lacked formal vaccination policies. Through the framework’s Partnership Contribution funding mechanism, 11 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Egypt, received sustained financial and technical support to develop core capacities, while additional countries benefited indirectly.

By 2025, WHO reports that 18 of the 22 EMR countries were regularly submitting influenza data to regional and global platforms, including EMFLU-2, FluNet and FluID. These systems are supported by an expanding network of sentinel surveillance sites that provide epidemiological data.

At the same time, 18 countries had established functioning National Influenza Centres, with at least 14 routinely sharing virus samples with WHO collaborating centres under GISRS.Despite operational challenges linked to insecurity and resource limitations, WHO said laboratory and surveillance functions remained active across most of the region.

This continuity was tested during the COVID-19 pandemic, when countries adapted existing influenza systems to incorporate SARS-CoV-2 testing. WHO described this transition as a catalyst for broader integration, accelerating the shift from single-disease monitoring to multi-pathogen surveillance.

According to WHO, 21 EMR countries now operate integrated sentinel surveillance systems capable of tracking influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus and other respiratory pathogens simultaneously.

These systems are designed to enable earlier detection of outbreaks and support more timely public health responses.WHO officials also highlighted efforts to strengthen workforce capacity through regional training programmes in epidemiology, laboratory diagnostics and outbreak investigation.

These initiatives have supported the adoption of genomic surveillance techniques, allowing for more detailed analysis of circulating viruses and improving risk assessment capabilities.The organisation said that lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic informed the development of a regional operational strategy focused on community protection under the PIP framework.

This strategy is aligned with broader global mechanisms, including the International Health Regulations (2005) and WHO’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response framework. It is intended to guide the use of funding, support evidence-based policymaking and improve resilience at the community level.Countries that have invested in influenza preparedness infrastructure have also been able to apply these systems to other respiratory threats.

WHO cited responses to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), avian influenza and emerging pathogens as examples of how established surveillance and laboratory networks can be leveraged beyond their original scope.Investment priorities have evolved over time, moving from the establishment of basic surveillance systems to improvements in quality, integration and advanced capabilities such as genomic sequencing.

WHO said regional technical teams have played a role in strengthening virus characterisation and ensuring that data generated in the EMR contribute effectively to global decision-making processes.The framework has also supported countries in generating national-level evidence on disease burden and vaccine effectiveness. WHO noted that Iraq has formally adopted a national influenza vaccination policy, while Tunisia, Lebanon and Jordan are in the process of developing similar frameworks.

These policy developments reflect varying national priorities, with some countries focusing on innovation and system integration and others concentrating on maintaining essential services in fragile settings.WHO emphasised that tailored approaches remain critical given the diversity of conditions across the region. Targeted support, adapted to individual country contexts, is seen as key to strengthening health systems and ensuring continuity of surveillance and response activities.

Looking ahead, WHO said continued alignment with global strategies, including the Global Influenza Strategy and ongoing discussions around a Pandemic Agreement, will be necessary to sustain progress.

The organisation highlighted the importance of long-term investment and regional collaboration in maintaining preparedness gains and mitigating the risk of cross-border disease transmission.