WORLD – The World Health Organization has released updated editions of its full set of manuals on strengthening surveillance of and response to foodborne diseases, providing countries with structured guidance to improve early detection, risk assessment, outbreak investigation, and prevention.
The revised package replaces the 2017 versions and reflects current public health priorities, including data integration, equity, climate-linked risks, and cross-sector collaboration across the food chain.
The manuals are designed to support countries at different stages of system development. From building foundational surveillance functions to integrating data from multiple sectors, the guidance outlines how national systems can progress in a coordinated and sustainable way, while aligning with the International Health Regulations and the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety.
Staged framework for national systems
Rather than a single approach, the updated package introduces a three-stage framework that guides countries through progressive system strengthening.
Early stages focus on detection and rapid response using indicator-based and event-based surveillance, while later stages support the integration of data across public health, food safety, laboratories, animal health, and environmental sectors.
At every stage, the manuals emphasize clear institutional roles, coordinated action, and the practical use of data to inform risk assessment and prevention.
The framework is intended to help countries move from basic detection toward food chain–wide surveillance that can better identify hazards, exposures, and trends.
Tools Designed for Day-to-Day Use
Each manual includes practical instruments that authorities can apply directly, such as self-assessment tools, decision trees, templates, field investigation guides, and case studies based on real-world experiences.
These resources help countries evaluate current capacity, identify gaps, and set priorities for improvement.
The updated editions also expand the connection between foodborne disease surveillance and food contamination monitoring, reflecting the need to link health data with information from food control systems.
New material addresses how climate and environmental factors influence foodborne risks and why surveillance systems must remain adaptable as conditions change.
Data, integration, and emerging technologies
The revised guidance places stronger emphasis on how data are collected, shared, and used. By improving data quality and timeliness, surveillance systems can support earlier detection of events, more reliable risk assessments, and faster, better-coordinated outbreak investigations.
The manuals are designed to work alongside existing WHO guidance on advanced tools, including whole genome sequencing.
These methods are presented as additions that can strengthen systems as they mature, rather than as replacements for core capacities.
A new annex in the stage two manual also introduces the potential role of artificial intelligence in supporting surveillance functions, particularly for analyzing trends and identifying unusual patterns.
Stage-by-stage scope of the manuals
The introductory manual outlines the overall approach, explains how activities align with the International Health Regulations, and introduces the three-stage framework. It includes a self-assessment tool that helps countries determine their current level of development and identify next steps.
The stage one manuals focus on detection and investigation. Part A covers the use of indicator-based and event-based surveillance to detect foodborne events and outlines rapid risk assessment processes and response responsibilities.
Part B provides a ten-step approach for investigating foodborne disease outbreaks, with guidance for field work, coordination across sectors, and documentation.
The stage two manual supports countries strengthening indicator-based surveillance. It describes how to analyze laboratory-confirmed cases, monitor trends, identify outbreaks, and guide multisectoral responses. It also details how to strengthen laboratory systems, notifiable disease surveillance, and rapid risk assessment processes.
The stage three manual addresses integration across the food chain. It explains how sectors can combine data to better understand risks, profile hazards, and guide coordinated control measures. Updates include guidance on integrating climate and environmental data, tracking antimicrobial resistance, and using evidence to inform national policy and risk management.
Expert perspectives from the WHO alliance for food safety
Dr. Intisar Salim Al-Gharibi, Director of Risk Assessment and Food Crisis Management at the Food Safety and Quality Centre in Oman and Co-Chair of the Working Group on Foodborne Disease Surveillance Integration, said the updated manuals reflect collaboration across sectors.
He also pointed out that they provide countries with practical guidance to strengthen surveillance and response, support integrated approaches across the food chain, and translate data into timely action.
Mr. Yahya Kandeh, Technical Officer for Food Safety at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Co-Chair of the same working group, noted that the manuals support the core capacities required under the International Health Regulations and align with the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety.