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The European Commission has introduced a groundbreaking tool to monitor infectious diseases through wastewater analysis: the European Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard. This new platform aggregates data from across the EU, combining national and research-based dashboards to track pathogen trends in near real-time. By providing this timely information, the tool aims to assist public health authorities in identifying, predicting, and responding to potential disease outbreaks.
Developed by the EU Wastewater Observatory for Public Health at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in partnership with the European Health Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), the dashboard strengthens the integration of wastewater testing into public health surveillance across the EU.
The launch of the dashboard is part of the EU’s broader efforts to enhance health monitoring systems. The European Commission recognizes the interconnectedness of human and environmental health, embracing the One Health approach. This initiative ensures the monitoring of health parameters in wastewater to reduce risks and prevent outbreaks.
In line with these objectives, the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, which came into effect this month, mandates EU Member States to establish national systems for urban wastewater surveillance. These systems aim to facilitate swift decision-making in public health emergencies. The upcoming Water Resilience Strategy will further bolster the One Health approach by introducing measures to improve knowledge and combat water pollution.
A Smarter, Faster Approach to Disease Tracking
Traditional public health surveillance relies heavily on clinical data, such as patient testing and diagnosis. However, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the effectiveness of wastewater-based surveillance as a supplementary tool. By detecting pathogens in wastewater, this method provides an early warning system, allowing health authorities to detect disease waves and even viral variants before they manifest in clinical settings.
Currently, the European Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard monitors three major pathogens—SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza—across 11 European countries, utilizing more than one million measurements. This dashboard is publicly available and free to access, offering valuable data for health authorities and researchers alike.
A Unified, Global Response
The EU Wastewater Observatory for Public Health aims to create a unified and consistent surveillance system that can support health authorities in their efforts to respond to cross-border health emergencies. As the platform evolves, the dashboard will include data from more countries and pathogens, fostering greater collaboration in disease monitoring.
Looking to the future, the initiative may contribute to the Global Consortium for Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance for Public Health (GLOWACON), a global effort launched by the European Commission in partnership with international organizations. GLOWACON aims to create an international surveillance system to detect, prevent, and monitor epidemic threats and outbreaks in real time.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on the latest available information from the European Commission and the Joint Research Centre (JRC). The dashboard’s data and methodology are subject to ongoing updates and improvements.
