International Day of Epidemic Preparedness (December 27)

COVID-19 showed the whole world how quickly a new disease can spread — and how costly it is to be unprepared. The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, observed every December 27, reminds governments, communities and families to prepare before the next outbreak strikes.

Key facts
Date	December 27 every year
Proclaimed by	UN General Assembly resolution 75/27 (December 7, 2020)
First observed	December 27, 2020
Why December 27	Birthday of Louis Pasteur (1822), pioneer of vaccines and germ theory
Approach	“One Health” — linking human, animal and environmental health
Hashtags	#EpidemicPreparedness #PreparednessDay

Why Preparedness Matters

Epidemics are not rare. In recent decades the world has faced SARS, H1N1 influenza, Ebola, Zika, MERS, mpox and COVID-19. About three-quarters of new infectious diseases come from animals, and growing travel, urbanisation and climate change help them spread. Preparing early — with surveillance, vaccines, stockpiles and trained health workers — saves lives and money.

Recent Outbreaks and Lessons Learned

Outbreak	Years	Key lesson
SARS	2002–2003	Fast international reporting matters
H1N1 (“swine flu”) pandemic	2009–2010	Vaccine production capacity is vital
Ebola, West Africa	2014–2016	Strong local health systems and community trust stop spread
Zika	2015–2016	Mosquito control and research on birth defects
COVID-19	2020 onward	Need for global cooperation, data sharing and fair vaccine access

Louis Pasteur: Why His Birthday?

French scientist Louis Pasteur (1822–1895) proved that germs cause many diseases, developed pasteurisation and created vaccines against anthrax and rabies. The UN chose his birthday to honour the role of science in fighting epidemics.

Global Preparedness Tools

• International Health Regulations (2005) — legally binding rules for countries to detect and report outbreaks, updated in 2024.
• WHO Pandemic Agreement — adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2025 to improve prevention, preparedness and equitable access to vaccines and treatments.
• Early-warning systems and global laboratory networks.
• Vaccine research platforms that can quickly produce new vaccines.

How Your Family Can Prepare

1. Keep vaccinations up to date for every family member.
2. Practise good hygiene — handwashing, covering coughs and staying home when sick.
3. Keep a basic stock of medicines, masks, soap and clean water.
4. Follow official health sources and avoid sharing unverified rumours.
5. Know how to contact your local health services.

👉 Related: Universal Health Coverage Day — December 12

👉 Plan ahead: All December observances

A Timeline of Pandemics and Preparedness

Year	Event
1918–1920	The “Spanish flu” pandemic infects about a third of the world’s population
1948	World Health Organization founded
1980	Smallpox declared eradicated — the only human disease eliminated so far
2003	SARS outbreak leads to stronger International Health Regulations (2005)
2014–2016	West Africa Ebola epidemic
2020	COVID-19 declared a pandemic; first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
2025	World Health Assembly adopts the WHO Pandemic Agreement

What Makes a Country Prepared?

• Surveillance: laboratories and reporting systems that detect outbreaks early.
• Health workforce: enough trained doctors, nurses and community health workers.
• Supplies: stockpiles of protective equipment, oxygen and medicines.
• Vaccines: research capacity and fair access to new vaccines.
• Communication: clear, trustworthy public health messages.
• Cooperation: sharing data and samples quickly with other countries.

FAQ

This article is for general information and is not medical advice.