Practicing today for tomorrow’s emergencies – WHO convenes countries and partners to simulate response to major disease outbreak

Key points

• The World Health Organization (WHO) wrapped up Exercise Polaris II, a 2-day high-level simulation exercise, based around an outbreak of a fictional new bacterium spreading across the world.
• Bringing together 26 countries and territories, 600 health emergency experts and over 25 partners, the exercise, which took place on 22 and 23 April, allowed countries to test their preparedness for pandemics and other major health emergencies, including activating their emergency workforce structures, information flow and coordination with each other, partners and WHO.
• Building on the success of Polaris I held in April 2025, which centered on a fictional virus, each participating country activated its emergency coordination structure and worked under real-life conditions to share information, align policies and surge their workforce.
• “Exercise Polaris II showed what is possible when we act together.
• It demonstrated that global cooperation is not optional – it is essential,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General....