In a significant step forward to protect public health and to integrate wastewater testing into routine public health monitoring, the European Commission has today launched the European Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard, a new tool that provides real-time insights about the spread of infectious diseases.
Tracking health through data
The European Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard, developed by the EU Wastewater Observatory for Public Health, tracks the spread of infectious diseases by analysing wastewater. It promises to contribute to how public health authorities track, predict, and respond to health threats across the continent.
In collaboration with the European Health Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), this innovative platform integrates data from across the EU, combining real-time wastewater monitoring with existing national and research-based dashboards. The result is a dynamic, comprehensive view of public health trends, offering early warnings for emerging pathogens and health crises.
By providing near to real-time information on pathogen trends, the dashboard supports rapid responses to disease outbreaks, reducing the time it takes for health systems to react and protecting EU citizens.
A more efficient and rapid method for disease tracking
Wastewater surveillance is not a new concept, but the European Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard is paving the way for significant advancement. Traditionally, public health responses have been based on clinical reporting—testing and diagnosing individuals—but wastewater surveillance provides an earlier, more holistic signal of disease spread.
The dashboard currently monitors three key pathogens - SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) across eleven European countries, and relies on an impressive total of over one million measurements. This consistent dataset allows authorities to observe regional health trends, detect rising cases, and even identify new viral variants.
As part of its evolution, the dashboard is expected to expand its coverage to include more countries and pathogens. In the long term, the dashboard could integrate data sources from other regions through the Global Consortium for Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance for Public Health (GLOWACON). This initiative, launched by the European Commission in partnership with key global partners, seeks to establish an international sentinel system for early detection, prevention, and real-time monitoring of epidemic threats and outbreaks.
More information:
Details
- Publication date
- 29 January 2025
- Author
- Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority