Boston University has launched a groundbreaking artificial intelligence platform called BEACON, designed to enhance disease surveillance and track emerging threats across the globe. The Biothreats Emergence, Analysis and Communications Network (BEACON AI tool) combines the precision of AI with expert human analysis to alert health authorities and the public about potential outbreaks, aiming to shorten the time between detection and response.

Story Highlights:

• BEACON AI tool launched in April 2025 to track emerging diseases worldwide.

• Within its first three months, the tool issued alerts on 420 outbreaks and mapped 134 disease-causing organisms.

• Users include local, state, and national health departments, the World Health Organization (WHO), and INTERPOL in 162 countries.

• Free, publicly accessible, and written for a general audience rather than medical specialists.

• Funded with $3 million from government grants and private foundations.

Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, founder of the BEACON AI tool and an infectious disease physician, said the project’s main objective is to provide an “alarm bell” for potential threats.

“Our main goal is to reduce the time between the reporting of a disease and its response,” Bhadelia explained. “Early alerts mean officials and the public can take action before outbreaks escalate.”

Bhadelia, who also directs Boston University’s Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases and served on the Biden administration’s COVID-19 response team, emphasized the role of human expertise in evaluating AI-collected data.

“Every report we post is verified by a medical or public health professional,” she said. “AI helps us scrape the web for information, but human judgment ensures accuracy and reliability.”

Since its launch, the BEACON AI tool has reported a wide range of outbreaks. Alerts have included Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, West Nile Virus deaths in Italy, rising mpox infections in Thailand, and Chagas disease now being reported in the southern United States. Chagas, transmitted by the “kissing bug,” can cause serious heart and gastrointestinal issues.

“What has surprised us most is the rapid trust people are placing in BEACON,” Bhadelia said. “We already have users in 162 countries, including major public health organizations and local departments.”

The BEACON AI tool is distinct from other disease surveillance systems in its accessibility. Unlike platforms designed for medical or biosecurity professionals, BEACON presents information in a social media-style format that is easy to navigate and understand for a general audience.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has highlighted a federal AI-based pathogen detection program, the Biothreat Radar Detection System, which screens population groups rather than individuals to automate public health alerts. Kennedy said the federal project builds on lessons from COVID-19, with a proposed $52 million budget for development.

Despite federal initiatives, public health experts say private platforms like the BEACON AI tool are filling critical gaps. Funding cuts and staffing reductions under the previous administration limited the CDC’s global disease surveillance capabilities. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had its overseas disease monitoring programs curtailed, and the country scaled back participation in the World Health Organization.

“It truly is not hyperbole to say public health is under attack,” Bhadelia said. “The current environment is creating vulnerabilities for the American population and the world at large.”

The BEACON AI tool’s data comes from multiple sources: web scraping provides approximately half of the information, while infectious disease experts in 12 countries contribute verified case reports. Anyone can submit a verified case for inclusion.

“While we use CDC data for diseases like measles or Salmonella, BEACON does not replicate local investigations,” Bhadelia noted. “Our aim is to alert, not replace local public health authorities.”

Academic and independent projects are increasingly stepping into roles once handled by federal agencies. The University of Minnesota’s Vaccine Integrity Project evaluates vaccines and combats misinformation, while Brown University’s Pandemic Center issues weekly infectious disease tracking reports.

Dr. Atul Gawande, former head of Global Health at USAID, said, “Independent and academic organizations are the next best thing we can have. It isn’t a replacement for government agencies, but it is critical as a backup.”

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of Brown University’s Pandemic Center, added, “The public might see tools like BEACON and assume the CDC is no longer needed. But protection of public health is inherently a government responsibility, and these tools are not substitutes.”

The BEACON AI tool is set to expand its accessibility with translations into seven additional languages by early next year, further solidifying its role as a global resource for infectious disease monitoring.

“AI is just one part of the solution,” Bhadelia said. “Combined with expert oversight, it can help the world respond faster and smarter to emerging disease threats.”

As global health threats continue to rise, the BEACON AI tool from Boston University offers a critical edge in disease surveillance. By combining AI with expert verification, it provides timely outbreak alerts and tracks emerging diseases worldwide. While independent tools cannot fully replace government-led efforts, BEACON demonstrates how innovation can strengthen infectious disease monitoring and help protect public health on a global scale.

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