Latvia is one of 26 European Member States participating in the EU-WISH (EU Wastewater Initiative for Sustainable Health) international project funded by the European Commission.

The aim of the project is to develop and strengthen public health surveillance capacities using wastewater monitoring as an effective and early warning tool. The project brings together more than 60 partners from 26 EU Member States and associated countries.

Latvia is represented by BIOR. Researchers from the Institute collect, analyse and interpret wastewater samples. In Latvia, the lead institution is the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), which provides strategic coordination of the project as well as coordination of tasks with international partners. The Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (LBMC) is also making an important contribution by analysing molecular data and developing new monitoring methods.

This inter-institutional cooperation allows Latvia to ensure high quality and scientifically sound wastewater monitoring, which serves as an important early warning mechanism for public health and provides data that are also useful for policy planning.

EU-WISH project activities include:

– assess and collect information on the current situation in the countries regarding wastewater monitoring;

– define monitoring targets for SARS-CoV-2, polioviruses, AMR, drugs, chemicals, etc;

– develop and harmonise sampling and biobanking procedures;

– develop, test and standardise sequencing and metagenomics methods;

– pilot data analysis, visualisation and artificial intelligence tools for epidemiological data;

– Ensure data integration into existing public health surveillance systems;

– Promote collaboration with other EU health security projects.

The Latvian state budget co-financing for the project “Integrated public health surveillance in wastewater of the European Union Member States (EU-WISH) for implementation in 2025-2026” will amount to €122 908, while the total cost of the project for Latvia will be €614 537.

EU-WISH activities are in line with the Latvian Public Health Guidelines 2021-2027, the Antimicrobial Resistance Control and Precautionary Use of Antibiotics Plan “One Health” , as well as with European Union legislation and recommendations, including the European Commission Recommendation on SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in wastewater and the Directive on urban wastewater treatment. Latvia will gain experience on how to use wastewater most effectively to monitor public health risks.