Syria’s second FETP cohort trains to strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response

15 July 2026, Cairo, Egypt - The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has launched the Syrian Arab Republic's second cohort of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP), strengthening the capacity of health workers to detect disease outbreaks earlier and respond rapidly to public health risks.

Disease surveillance helps health authorities identify unusual patterns of illness before they develop into wider outbreaks. By training public health professionals to collect, analyse and act on health data, FETP supports faster responses, helping protect families and communities in Syria and - because infectious diseases can spread beyond borders - across the Region.

The latest cohort brings together 37 public health professionals - 25 residents and 12 mentors - from 14 governorates. Participants receive practical, competency-based training in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, data analysis, rapid response and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in public health.

The integration of AI into the curriculum is a key feature of this second cohort. Participants are learning how AI-assisted tools can help analyse health data, identify signals that may require further investigation and support faster, evidence-informed decision-making. These tools complement, rather than replace, epidemiological expertise and public health judgement.

The Programme combines classroom instruction with field-based learning, allowing participants to apply surveillance and response skills in their communities to strengthen early detection and investigation of public health threats. To support national ownership and sustainability, the training is being delivered by Syrian facilitators who have been prepared to lead future FETP cohorts and contribute to the Programme's long-term institutionalization.

The FETP is implemented through ongoing collaboration among WHO, the Syrian Ministry of Health and the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET). It supports the recovery of Syria's health system by building national capacity to detect, investigate and respond to public health threats. The programme is also supported by the Schmidt Initiative for Long Covid and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

FETPs are competency-based training and service programmes that equip health workers with practical epidemiology skills through on-the-job mentorship and training. Participants work within active public health teams and apply their training to current health priorities, strengthening programme delivery while building lasting institutional capacity.

Read about the first cohort of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme in Syria: WHO EMRO - Strengthening Health Preparedness in Syria: First Frontline FETP Cohort Graduates