Upholding Trust:  Inside GISAID’s Decision to Withdraw Data Feeds

During the COVID-19 response, some users with valid GISAID access credentials requested additional permissions, including data feeds to enable, e.g. dashboards to track variant prevalence or visualize the genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 across the globe.  These requests were granted under supplementary agreements that required strict adherence to GISAID’s terms and assurances against misuse.

Subsequent audits, conducted with external experts and guided by GISAID’s Compliance Board, identified irregularities and breach of agreements which encroached upon contributors’ rights.  In such cases, GISAID terminated the data feeds and revoked the supplementary permissions, as usage had diverged from the stated, approved purposes.  Their regular access to GISAID, however, remained unaffected.

Despite this, a small but vocal group has circulated claims that access was cut “without justification,” mischaracterizing the circumstances.  To uphold transparency and protect its community, GISAID is clarifying the record and sharing representative examples of cases where data feeds were withdrawn due to non-compliance.  Read the full statement

H5N1 Bird Flu continues to circulate in the United States

Clade 2.3.4.4b of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus causing outbreaks in wild and domestic birds around the world continues to spread in dairy cows, poultry and other animals across the United States. Since April 2024, the U.S. CDC confirmed 70 human cases through genome sequence analysis. Data in some of these cases showed the amino acid substitution NA-S247N known to slightly reduce susceptibility to the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir in laboratory tests. In one case, a different change in the polymerase acidic (PA) protein was detected.

On 19 March 2025, the CDC released specimen data from the first human case in Ohio.  The specimen sequence belongs to genotype D1.3.  Previously the CDC released data from the first human fatality involving a patient from Louisiana that had been exposed to non-commercial backyard poultry and wild birds.

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Mpox virus Clade Ib continues to be a closely monitored public health threat

Since November 2023, the Eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to see cases of the mpox virus Clade Ib that is also spreading through regional travel to neighboring countries in Central and Eastern Africa, incl. Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.  Outside of Africa, cases continue to be reported, including in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States.
 
GISAID EpiPox provides access to the latest genome sequences and associated metadata of the mpox viruses, including Clade Ib and recombinant Ib+IIb.  On 5 January 2026, Spain's Instituto de Salud Carlos III submitted a genome sequence of Clade Ib from a human case with no travel history. Previously, in the UK, a new recombinant (Ib+IIb) mpox was identified in a specimen sample collected from a traveller returning from Asia.  The phylodynamics of Clade Ib can also be monitored on GISAID’s up-to-date phylogenetic trees.

A global collaboration enabled by GISAID data sharing maps H5 influenza antigenic evolution to support vaccine development

Researchers from the University of Cambridge, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Erasmus Medical Center are advancing understanding of the rapid genetic and antigenic evolution of H5 influenza viruses. Using genome sequence data shared through GISAID, researchers generated synthetic hemagglutinin constructs, produced recombinant H5 viruses, and performed antigenic characterization to build comprehensive antigenic maps spanning viruses circulating since 1959.  These maps guide the design of broadly protective vaccine candidates and support global surveillance.

All antigenic maps are publicly accessible and reagents are available to contributing laboratories, reinforcing the benefits from responsible data sharing, with fair attribution toward equitable global preparedness and response against emerging H5 threats

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An Equitable Pandemic Accord? 
A perspective from a Congolese Researcher

Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo - Prof. Dr. Francine Ntoumi reflects on her surveillance work in Africa during COVID-19 and shares her views on global health equity, lessons learned, the impact of technology, and the importance of international collaboration and role of GISAID's Regional Hub in Central Africa. 

Dr. Francine concludes her perspective with a cautionary reminder of what a global treaty will need to provide.  See also: "Data imperialism in a pandemic."  On 20. May 2025, the WHO Pandemic Accord was adopted by Member States at the Seventy-eigth World Health Assembly.

► Listen to Dr. Ntoumi in her own words

GISAID joins the G20 Joint Finance & Health Ministerial Meeting

Yogyakarta, 20-21 June. Under the motto ‘Strengthening Global Health Architecture’ a delegation from GISAID attended the G20 Finance and Health Ministers meeting hosted by Indonesia, to discuss with G20 Member States’ and its partners their vision for GISAID+ (GISAID plus).

Global leaders reflected on the need to coordinate and strengthen resources during future pandemics. In particular Member States stressed the essential role GISAID plays in global health security, and discussed how global leaders could support GISAID’s expansion as a global resource to respond to other priority pathogens with major impact and pandemic-potential.

> read more

CBD Study finds 'GISAID might provide useful lessons and insight to ABS discussions'

A peer-reviewed fact-finding and scoping study on digital sequence information on genetic resources in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, highlights key advantages of GISAID’s sharing mechanism and a fair and equitable benefit-sharing resulting from access to data.

With the core principals of timely international sharing of health data for protecting populations against lethal infectious disease outbreaks and adherence to scientific etiquette of acknowledgement of the source of data has resulted in global trust and confidence in GISAID. 

> download the fact-finding & scoping study