Singapore launches Asia-Pacific One Health disease surveillance initiative
Published · Updated
What happened
Singapore launched APOHI as a regional infectious-disease surveillance initiative that combines data across human, animal, and environmental health systems. Temasek Foundation and the Gates Foundation are supporting the effort, and the inaugural field program will examine monkey malaria in Borneo.
Why it matters
The launch creates a new regional surveillance node focused on zoonotic spillover detection rather than country-by-country reporting alone. If participating institutions share usable data and methods, it could shorten the time between unusual pathogen activity and public-health action across Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific.
Singapore on November 3 launched the Asia Pacific One Health Initiative (APOHI), a new regional platform intended to integrate human, wildlife, and environmental health data for earlier detection of infectious disease threats. The initiative is backed by Temasek Foundation and the Gates Foundation and will use predictive modelling to identify spillover risks and support earlier intervention. Its first program will study monkey malaria in Borneo, linking zoonotic surveillance to land-use and environmental change.
Watch for
Singapore's Ministry of Health or APOHI publication of participating institutions, governance terms, or data-sharing protocols by 2026-11-07 Temasek Foundation announcement of committed funding, implementation partners, or grant structure for APOHI by 2026-11-07 Gates Foundation confirmation of program scope or co-funding terms for APOHI on its official channels by 2026-11-07 Named Borneo research partners' confirmation of field sites or sampling plans for the monkey-malaria program by 2026-11-07
Sources
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