AGES Establishes National Wastewater Monitoring Center for Respiratory Pathogens in Austria

New National Reference Center Operational

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) has officially launched its new National Reference Center for Wastewater Monitoring. The center commenced operations on November 19, 2025, with public announcements made on December 2, 2025. This initiative aims to enhance the surveillance of respiratory pathogens across Austria, building upon existing monitoring efforts.

Expanded Pathogen Surveillance

The newly established center significantly broadens the scope of wastewater analysis. While previously focusing on SARS-CoV-2, the monitoring now includes other frequently occurring respiratory pathogens such as Influenza A and B, and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).

The monitoring process involves:

• Regular collection of 24-hour mixed samples from 20 wastewater treatment plants throughout Austria.
• Cooled transportation of samples to AGES laboratories for molecular biological analysis.
• Public and daily publication of results, including virus loads and circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, on the dedicated website abwasser.ages.at, also available as 'Open Data'.

Significance for Public Health

State Secretary for Health Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ) highlighted the importance of the center, stating that it creates a 'stable foundation for the continuous observation of respiratory pathogens in Austria'. The wastewater monitoring system has proven to be a reliable early warning system for infection waves, contributing to proactive planning and preparations in public health.

This long-term establishment of wastewater monitoring also aligns with European guidelines, which mandate rapid pathogen monitoring in the event of health emergencies, as outlined in the new Municipal Wastewater Directive of the EU.

Continuity and Development

Prior to AGES taking over, wastewater monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 was conducted by the Medical University of Innsbruck and the Research Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). The AGES center will not only perform laboratory analyses but also coordinate data publication and international dissemination of results, ensuring a comprehensive and flexible system that can adapt to current requirements.