Webinar Recap: Data-Driven Decision Making in Outbreak Control: The Role of AI and Big Data

Kossar Ghandehari
Jul 29
2 min read

June 26, 2025

On June 26, 2025, the Infectious Disease Alliance (IDA) hosted a virtual webinar titled “Data-Driven Decision Making in Outbreak Control: The Role of AI and Big Data.” This event convened global health experts, technologists, policymakers, and advocates to explore how AI and big data can transform infectious disease preparedness and response.

🎯 Key Topics

Real-time outbreak detection through AI and predictive modeling.
Equitable data integration for community-driven health solutions.
Ethical frameworks and interoperability for global health systems.
Case studies of AI applications in outbreak control.

💡 Speakers

Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, Founding Director, Boston University Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases: Highlighted AI-driven surveillance via the BEACON platform, emphasizing open-source, contextualized reporting for outbreak preparedness.
Dr. Catherine Bielick, Infectious Disease Physician, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Clinical Instructor, Harvard Medical School: Presented cutting-edge tools like WHO EIOS for event-based surveillance, emphasizing data interoperability via FHIR and SNOMED CT standards.
Prof. Ernest Tambo, Public Health Expert, University of Global Health Equity: Highlighted AI’s impact in Rwanda’s 2025 Marburg outbreak response, focusing on predictive modeling and capacity building.
Audrey Odogu, Senior Business Development Manager, eHealth Africa: Focused on community-driven data integration and digital inclusion, drawing from Nigeria’s telehealth initiatives.

🔍 Highlights & Takeaways

AI-Driven Surveillance: Dr. Bhadelia demonstrated BEACON’s open-source LLM capabilities, distinguishing it from platforms like ProMED for enhanced outbreak reporting.
Interoperable Systems: Dr. Bielick highlighted WHO EIOS and federated learning to address interoperability and cross-language consistency challenges, supporting equitable data sharing
Global South Insights: Prof. Tambo showcased Rwanda’s AI-driven Marburg response, noting ethical frameworks and infrastructure needs for scalability in low-resource settings
Community Engagement: Audrey Odogu shared insights on overcoming manual data collection barriers in Nigeria, advocating for trust-building and policy alignment.

🗣️ Q&A Session

Community Data Challenges: Audrey Odogu addressed manual data integration hurdles, emphasizing patience and community trust.
BEACON vs. ProMED: Dr. Bhadelia clarified BEACON’s contextualized AI approach, with Prof. Tambo reinforcing stakeholder engagement.
AI in Healthcare Economy: Speakers, including Dr. Bielick and Prof. Tambo, highlighted AI’s supportive role in enhancing service efficiency without displacing jobs, urging responsible adoption.
Advocacy for AI: Prof. Tambo called for policy reforms to promote AI’s benefits in global health security.