Harnessing digital twins for public health surveillance and pandemic preparedness

Abstract The 10th session of the WHO Pandemic & Epidemic Intelligence Innovation Forum focused on the transformative potential of digital twins in enhancing public health systems and pandemic preparedness. Digital twins, virtual replicas of physical entities or systems, can integrate real-time data to simulate and predict outcomes, providing valuable insights for public health interventions. This session explored their applications in healthcare, urban planning, and climate adaptation, while addressing challenges such as data governance, ethical considerations, and system interoperability. Discussions also emphasised the need for overcoming limitations and leveraging multisectoral collaboration to maximise the utility of digital twins in advancing global health resilience.