Milano–Cortina 2026: DG HERA supports wastewater surveillance to strengthen public health preparedness

In the context of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026, the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA) is supporting the implementation of wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) in the Lombardy Region to enhance situational awareness and preparedness during the Games.

Large-scale mass gatherings bring together high population density, international travel and intense mobility over a limited period of time. In this context, WES provides a complementary tool that can support early detection of health threats, monitor trends across different locations, and support timely public health responses.

During a site visit in Milan, representatives from Regione Lombardia, DG HERA and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) reviewed the progress of the surveillance activities and visited key wastewater treatment and sampling sites. The visit highlighted how EU support is being translated into concrete operational capacity on the ground for a large-scale international mass-gathering event, as part of the GLOWACON Mass Gathering Events Programme.

The implementation phase is progressing well and will continue until mid-April in order to build a meaningful dataset over time. Since the end of January 2026, weekly wastewater sampling has been carried out at five strategic locations across Lombardy: the Milan Nosedo wastewater treatment plant, Malpensa Airport, Orio al Serio Airport, Bormio wastewater treatment plant and Niguarda Hospital.

Collected samples are analysed using PCR and metagenomic techniques to detect a wide range of pathogens of public health relevance, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV, polio, measles and H5N1. These analyses support early detection, situational awareness and informed decision-making in the context of increased population mobility and international travel.

“Wastewater surveillance allows us to detect potential health threats early and at population level,” said Laurent Muschel, Deputy Head of DG HERA. He added: “For major international events, wastewater surveillance supports preparedness and helps create the conditions for events like the Milano–Cortina 2026 Games to take place safely and successfully.”

DG HERA’s financial support for wastewater surveillance activities linked to the Games includes sampling materials, equipment, logistics, laboratory analyses and data generation. The support is provided through EU framework contracts established under the EU4Health programme to measure pathogens and pollutants of emerging concern in untreated wastewater as part of a global sentinel surveillance system.

Results are made directly accessible to Regione Lombardia through a secure digital platform, ensuring timely situational awareness and coordination. National and public health authorities are informed through regular reporting by the Region.

This collaboration demonstrates the added value of EU-level preparedness measures working hand in hand with regional authorities, leveraging innovative tools such as wastewater surveillance to strengthen resilience and health security during major international events.