WHA79 Side Event – Strengthening Global Preparedness for Arboviral Epidemics

Our official World Health Assembly (WHA79) side event brought together global partners to discuss strengthening surveillance, diagnostics, and response capacity for dengue and other emerging arboviruses. Watch the full recording to explore key insights from global leaders working to improve integrated responses to arboviral threats.

Watch the recording

Chairs

  • Nuno Faria – Imperial College London & University of São Paulo

  • Lee Ching Ng – National Environmental Agency, Singapore

Opening and policy contributions

  • Maria van Kerkhove – WHO (Epidemic and Pandemic Management)

  • Maru Aregawi – WHO (Vector Disease Control, Malaria & NTDs)

  • Silvia Paula Valentim Lutucuta – Minister of Health, Angola

  • Agnes Soares da Silva – Ministry of Health, Brazil

  • Ling Peng – Ministry of Health / Public Health Authority, Singapore

  • Jeremy Knox – Wellcome Trust

Technical and scientific talks

  • Diana Rojas – WHO (Health Operations)

  • Lee Ching Ng – Environmental Health Institute, Singapore (NEA)

  • Sushant Sahastrabuddhe – International Vaccine Institute

  • Julio Croda – Fiocruz & Brazilian Ministry of Health

  • Lorenzo Subissi – WHO (Emerging Threats and Diagnostics)

  • Nuno Faria – Imperial College London (technical presentation)

  • Lynn Ho – Temasek Foundation

Closing remarks

  • Lee Ching Ng and Nuno Faria

Country discussion

  • Joana Morais – National Institute for Health Research, Angola

Key takeaways

  • Arboviral diseases are expanding rapidly in geography, scale, and complexity, driven by climate change, urbanisation, and global mobility.

  • Over 5.6 billion people are projected to be at risk, making arboviruses an urgent and growing global health priority.

  • There is now a clear window of opportunity: we have the tools—including genomic surveillance, rapid diagnostics, vaccines, and vector control innovations—but they are not yet deployed at scale or equitably.

  • The challenge is no longer innovation alone, but translating existing tools into coordinated, real-world implementation.

  • Effective response requires shifting from fragmented, reactive systems to integrated, proactive preparedness models.

  • Strengthening laboratory capacity, surveillance systems, and data integration is essential for early detection and timely response.

  • Sustained investment in systems, workforce, and country-led infrastructure is critical to building long-term preparedness.

  • Stronger global collaboration is needed to improve data sharing, coordination, and financing models, and to ensure equitable access to available solutions.