How Cities Can Use 7-1-7 to Strengthen Health Emergency Preparedness and Response

Urban areas are on the front lines of public health emergencies. With their high population densities, global connectedness, and diverse health needs, cities face unique challenges in detecting and responding to infectious disease outbreaks. On July 31, 2025, a virtual webinar hosted by Resolve to Save Lives will spotlight how two cities—Tucson, Arizona (USA) and Recife, Pernambuco (Brazil)—are using the 7-1-7 target to improve their local health emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The session is open to public health professionals, epidemiologists, and global health security stakeholders.

What Is the 7-1-7 Target?

The 7-1-7 metric is an emerging global standard that tracks the speed of outbreak detection, notification, and response:

• 7 days to detect a public health threat,
• 1 day to notify public health authorities,
• 7 days to mount an effective response.

This framework enables local and national health systems to assess performance, identify bottlenecks, and improve outbreak management in real time.

Case Studies: Tucson and Recife

The webinar will feature in-depth case studies of how local health authorities in Tucson and Recife have implemented 7-1-7 to boost their responsiveness to public health threats:

• Tucson, Arizona: Pima County improved outbreak detection and response timeliness across a variety of settings, including schools, shelters, and congregate care facilities. These lessons offer valuable insights for other urban jurisdictions looking to bolster their preparedness systems.
• Recife, Brazil: During the city’s Carnaval celebrations—one of the world’s largest mass gatherings with 2.7 million attendees—7-1-7 was successfully piloted and later integrated into routine surveillance and outbreak response. Recife’s experience demonstrates how 7-1-7 can be scaled and institutionalized to improve local and national health security.

What You’ll Learn

Participants in the webinar will:

• Understand how the 7-1-7 target can serve as a practical framework for urban preparedness planning.
• Gain insights into real-world implementation experiences that sparked broader national-level health discussions.
• Learn how 7-1-7 can be used as a communication and engagement tool to align stakeholders and drive action.

Featured Speakers

• Kate Donaldson, Senior Director of Programs, Big Cities Health Coalition (United States)
• Theresa Cullen, Public Health Director, Pima County Health Department, Tucson, Arizona (United States)
• Beatriz Matias da Silva, Head of the Center for Strategic Information on Health Surveillance, Recife (Brazil)

This event is particularly relevant for public health professionals, epidemiologists, city health planners, and those working in emergency response and global health security.

To learn more or register, visit the official event page.