We practice today for tomorrow’s emergencies – WHO brings together countries and partners to simulate a response to a major disease epidemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) has completed Exercise Polaris II, a two-day high-level simulation exercise based on an outbreak of a fictional new bacteria that is spreading around the world. Bringing together 26 countries and territories, 600 health emergency experts and more than 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 between partners and WHO.

Building on success Polaris I held in April 2025, which focused on a fictional virus, each participating country activated its emergency coordination structure and worked in real-world conditions to share information, coordinate policies and increase manpower.

“Exercise Polaris II showed what is possible when we act together. It showed that global cooperation is not optional – it is essential,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This is the purpose of the Global Health Emergency Corps: coordinating the emergency workforce, building trust, strengthening ties and working together across borders.”

The simulation put two key WHO frameworks into practice, Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC) framework and National health framework for alerting and responding to emergency situationsand explored the use of AI-enabled tools to support organization and workforce planning.

The GHEC Framework, published in June 2025, provides guidance on how countries can strengthen their health workforce to respond to emergencies based on the principles of sovereignty, equity and solidarity. It improves cooperation between countries by supporting information sharing and strengthening the deployment of regional and global emergency personnel when needed.

The National Health Emergency Alert and Response Framework, published in October 2025, outlines the key functions, coordination systems and actions required for an effective response at local, sub-national and national levels.

“By simulating the spread of a dangerous pathogen in real conditions, the Polaris II exercise helped us turn existing plans into action. It is not enough to have plans on paper – it is important how they are put into practice,” said Edenilo Baltazar Barreira Filho, director of the Department of Public Health Emergencies, Ministry of Health, Brazil.

The exercise also provided an opportunity to practice the coordinated provision of technical expertise and emergency support to countries from more than 25 national, regional and global health agencies and organizations, including the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières, the Robert Koch Institute, UK-Med, UNICEF and emergency networks such as the Global Epidemic Alert and Response Network, Emergency Medical Teams Initiative, Standby Partners and International Association of National Institutes of Public Health.

“Exercise Polaris II showed what it looks like when countries are ready and willing to act together,” said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. “This reflects the spirit of the Global Health Emergency Corps: a well-organized, trained, coordinated and connected emergency workforce ready to respond wherever and whenever needed.”

In the second edition of the exercise, a larger number of countries participated and cooperated through new networks such as the one recently launched Network of Emergency Health Managers for Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Polaris II exercise is part of HorizonX, WHO’s visionary, multi-year simulation exercise programme. It provides a vital platform for operationalizing and practicing emergency frameworks in real-life settings, ensuring that collective preparedness is not an occasional effort, but an ongoing investment in global health security.

Note to editors

Participating countries and territories covering all WHO regions include Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Georgia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo*, Libya, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Rwanda, Suriname, Thailand and Yemen.

*All references to Kosovo on this page should be understood in the context of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).

ABOUT WHO
Committed to the well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and supports global efforts to give everyone, everywhere, an equal opportunity to live a safe and healthy life. We are the United Nations health agency that connects nations, partners and people on the front lines in more than 150 locations – leading the world’s response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health problems and expanding access to medicines and health care. Our mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. “Together for health. Stand with science,” the theme of World Health Day 2026 marks a year-long campaign to highlight science as the foundation for protecting health and well-being around the world.