by Natalie Winters at X
In December 2025, the World Health Organization quietly coordinated a large-scale pandemic simulation across the Western Pacific region. The exercise, known as IHR Exercise CRYSTAL, involved 31 countries and areas and was framed by WHO itself as “getting ready for the next pandemic.”
That phrase was not commentary. It was the official title and purpose of the exercise.
Concerning.
According to WHO’s regional release, CRYSTAL ran over several weeks in December and simulated the emergence of a novel respiratory illness with the potential for international spread. Participating governments were not asked to discuss theory. They were asked to respond in real time to alerts, verify information, conduct risk assessments, and coordinate actions across agencies.
The exercise was organized through WHO’s Western Pacific Regional Office and conducted under the International Health Regulations, the binding framework that governs how countries notify WHO and respond to public health emergencies with cross-border implications.
WHO states that participants included not only national health ministries,…
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