PAHO Launches VR Platform to Train Public Health Labs

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has introduced a virtual reality (VR) platform aimed at strengthening preparedness and technical capacity across public health laboratories in the Americas, with a focus on surveillance of influenza and other pathogens with epidemic potential.

“Investing in preparedness translates to economic resilience, as well as long-term protection of communities and health systems,” says WHO.

PAHO’s new platform offers a three-dimensional simulation of a molecular biology laboratory modeled on the structure and workflows of a national influenza center. Through the virtual environment, users can move through core laboratory areas such as sample reception, molecular processing and genomic sequencing, replicating the operational flow of real-world facilities. The experience is designed to mirror routine laboratory practices used in pathogen surveillance and outbreak response.

“In this virtual space you can explore every room, from sample reception to molecular testing, and interact with the equipment, posters, and key biosafety elements that represent a resilient laboratory system,” says PAHO.

Beyond spatial navigation, the platform integrates technical content central to laboratory operations. Users can interact with laboratory equipment and access diagnostic algorithms, biosafety standards, quality control manuals, technical protocols, and documentation related to the International Health Regulations. These resources are embedded within the virtual setting through interactive points that link to documents, videos, and infographics.

​​Epidemiological surveillance and monitoring systems, including laboratory functions, are essential for the early detection of emerging diseases with pandemic potential and for enabling an appropriate response to national or international health emergencies.

The tool is accessible through virtual reality headsets as well as standard computers and mobile devices, broadening its reach across countries and institutions with varying levels of technological infrastructure. PAHO positions the platform as a complement to traditional training methods, offering a practical learning option for laboratory professionals who may have limited access to advanced facilities or in-person instruction.

According to Juliana Leite, Member of the Laboratory Response Team, PAHO, the virtual laboratory was designed to promote active learning and collaboration. She says the immersive format encourages exploration, supports knowledge exchange among professionals, and contributes to strengthening laboratory capacity and health system resilience across the region.

A central objective of the initiative is to improve readiness for public health emergencies. By allowing laboratory staff to familiarize themselves with equipment, procedures, and safety measures in advance, the platform supports faster onboarding of new personnel and reduces operational gaps during emergencies. This approach reflects lessons learned from recent outbreaks, where laboratory surge capacity and standardized practices proved critical.

“This project was carefully designed to strengthen laboratory capacity, biosafety, quality and to support countries on building resilient laboratory systems,” says PAHO.

Danilo Franco, from Panama’s Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, highlights the regional relevance of the initiative. He says the platform supports continuous training and reinforces the protocols, biosafety measures, and tools laboratories rely on to respond to public health events.

With the launch of the virtual reality platform, PAHO reinforces its focus on technological innovation as part of its broader strategy to strengthen laboratory systems. The organization views robust laboratory networks as a cornerstone for early detection, surveillance, and effective response to health emergencies, supporting public health decision-making across the Americas.

The immersive digital tool was presented during the regional meeting of laboratories of the Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Network (SARInet plus), held in Brazil. The meeting convened laboratory experts from Latin America and the Caribbean to review priorities and coordination mechanisms for monitoring respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19, in a context of ongoing and future public health risks.

According to the PAHO, seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus were circulating simultaneously across the Americas in January 2026, a trend that raises the risk of service saturation in hospitals and clinics. PAHO urges countries to reinforce surveillance, vaccination, and preparedness as influenza positivity remains elevated in the Northern Hemisphere, with older adults among the most affected groups.

In Mexico, health authorities reported more than 2,300 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases during the 2025–2026 season as of epidemiological week 53, with seven associated deaths. While overall severity has remained comparable to previous seasons, PAHO warns that overlapping circulation of respiratory viruses could intensify demand for care, particularly for elderly patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions. The organization emphasizes vaccination, early detection, and home-based management as key tools to reduce hospitalizations, reports MBN. 

“An effective disease surveillance system is essential to detect disease outbreaks quickly before they spread, cost lives and become difficult to control,” says WHO.

Participants at the SARInet plus meeting described the platform as a model that could be adapted or replicated at the national level. Vernel Feloion, Supervisor of the Molecular Biology and Serology Department, Ezra Long Laboratory in Saint Lucia, says the virtual laboratory provides a practical way to visualize and plan future molecular biology facilities while helping users understand protocols and workflows, particularly those without prior experience in fully equipped laboratories.