Assessing and improving methods for real-time outbreak forecasting

Within the last decade the World Health Organisation (WHO) have made five declarations of a public health emergency of international concern, following outbreaks of wild polio, Ebola, Zika virus disease and Covid-195. In a highly connected world with increasing urbanisation and land-use change, the likelihood of epidemics and pandemics is increasing. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the devastating impact of infectious disease outbreaks, both for health and the economy globally. Rapid and accurate forecasting implemented in real-time is key to facilitate a well-coordinated response and swift resource planning.