In 2025, countries across three WHO regions put their International Health Regulations (IHR) capacities to the test through region-wide simulation exercises, sharpening their ability to detect, report, and respond to public health threats with international impact.

These exercises - South-East Asia Regional Practice of All-Hazard IHR Event Communications (SAPHIRE), Joint Assessment and Detection of Events (JADE) in the European Region, and IHR Exercise Crystal in the Western Pacific Region - bring together National Focal Points (NFPs), who play a critical role under the IHR in safeguarding global health security. These annual exercises stress-test IHR event communication procedures and contingency plans, demonstrating a sustained commitment by countries to strengthening preparedness and learning.

SAPHIRE Exercise

SAPHIRE 2025, held in July, gathered more than 190 experts from 10 countries from the WHO South-East Asia Region to simulate a potential public health emergency of international concern arising from a food safety incident. Conducted through email-based injects with a virtual debrief, the exercise tested the operational readiness of NFPs and International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) Emergency Contact Points and their event communication to the WHO IHR contact point in real time. Participants practiced applying IHR Annex 2 and INFOSAN criteria, using institutional communication channels and drafting essential event-related documents. The exercise revealed improved clarity of roles, stronger cross-sectoral coordination and better access to the Event Information Site (EIS) - WHO's platform to inform countries about consequential public health events - compared to previous years. SAPHIRE's structured self-review process and country-specific feedback reports will guide targeted capacity-building efforts across the region.

Dr Buddha Nilesh, the Regional Emergency Director for WHO's South-East Asia Region, emphasized in his closing remarks that "SAPHIRE 2025 marked a meaningful evolution by simulating a food safety-related event, reinforcing the linkage between IHR NFPs and INFOSAN ECPs. Participants demonstrated strong cross-sectoral coordination, flexibility, and improved clarity of roles under IHR."

JADE Exercise

JADE 2025, held in November in the WHO European Region, brought together 41 countries and focused on testing communication and coordination between National IHR Focal Points (NFPs) and WHO IHR Regional Contact Points during a simulated chemical event with potential international implications. Through real-time functional scenarios, countries practiced two-way notification and verification processes, use of the IHR Annex 2 decision instrument, and posting on EIS. The exercise also engaged chemical safety, environmental, civil protection, and laboratory partners to review mechanisms for requesting international assistance. Led by WHO's Health Security Division in collaboration with ECDC, DG SANTE and RIVM, JADE 2025 strengthened both communication pathways and cross-sector collaboration essential for chemical emergency response.

"Simulation exercises like JADE offer a unique and safe environment for us to explore how our systems function under pressure. Through practicing and testing our capabilities, JADE contributes to strengthening our Region's ability to respond swiftly and effectively to complex, multi-hazard events" says Ihor Perehinets, Health Security and Regional Emergency Director, Division of Health Security, WHO Regional Office for Europe.

CRYSTAL Exercise

In WHO's Western Pacific Region, CRYSTAL 2025, conducted in December2025, brought together 31 countries and areas to rehearse their readiness for the next pandemic through a fictional novel respiratory illness scenario. The exercise reinforced a culture of preparedness by testing real-time verification, information-sharing, and public health risk assessment processes. With a strong emphasis on operations at points of entry, it brought health, animal health, and authorities responsible for points of entry, risk communications and other sectors together, demonstrating the essential role of multisectoral coordination in managing emerging threats. Supported by the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework Partnership Contribution, the exercise also helped Member States refine contingency plans, strengthen interoperability, and improve trust among agencies - critical elements for rapid and coordinated emergency response. Additionally, based on scores from the IHR States Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reports, countries in the Western Pacific have seen increased scores for IHR NFP capacities such as the timely sharing of information on acute public health events.

"Based on our experience with multiple health emergencies, we know that multisectoral coordination at points of entry is critical to contain pandemics effectively, and at an early stage. In this regard, the scenario presented in this year's IHR Crystal Exercise is apt," noted Dr Shimoaraiso Makato, Public Health Advisor at the Asia-Europe Foundation. "While this year's exercise focused on a novel influenza outbreak, the outcomes can be applied to other priority hazards as well. We hope that the experience gained will be leveraged in regional capacity-building efforts."

Together, SAPHIRE, JADE and CRYSTAL 2025 Exercises demonstrate the value of regular, realistic simulation exercises in strengthening the global health security system. By testing communication systems, refining coordination across multiple sectors, and reinforcing the responsibilities of National IHR Focal Points, these exercises help ensure countries are better prepared, better connected and more resilient when real emergencies arise.