Today, we dive into one of the most urgent and often misunderstood topics of our time: disease surveillance.

Sandul Yasobant (Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences-IIPHG), Abbey Olsen (Assistant Professor, University of Copenhagen), and Poonam Vyas(SAGE Surveillance Fellow - IIPHG) sit down with Shannon to unpack why surveillance isn’t about control, but about preparedness and why real-time monitoring is essential if we hope to prevent the next pandemic rather than simply react to it.

In this thoughtful conversation, our experts break down complex ideas into clear, accessible language, addressing common myths and fears around data collection. They explore what surveillance truly means, who it serves, and how it protects communities.

The discussion then turns to building a stronger One Health surveillance system in India, one that recognises the deep interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. Poonam emphasises the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration and meaningful community engagement, while Abbey reminds us that no system can function without trust at its core.

Listen to the full episode.