Project description

The early detection of pathogens that can trigger epidemics and the continuous monitoring of zoonoses are important tools in the fight against pandemics. The global crisis triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak has shown that the response to pandemics must be improved at European level. Timely and effective surveillance at EU and national level is crucial in order to be able to react quickly.

UNITED4Surveillance contributes to the implementation of the new health security framework under the EU Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health (2022/2371). The project also supports the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The digitalisation of surveillance systems plays a key role by facilitating the exchange and access to health data. UNITED4Surveillance contributes to building surveillance capacity in Europe and beyond to improve global health security.

Preliminary results

The following progress has already been made in the ‘One Health Surveillance’ work package:

Vector-borne diseases (coordination: Mateusz Markowicz and Georg Duscher)

We are testing arthropods such as arachnids and insects for the bacterium Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia (rabbit fever), in regions where cases of tularemia have occurred. Questionnaires are used to identify potential sites of infection, and potential vectors are then collected in these regions. The collected arthropods are identified and tested for the presence of the bacterium. In 2024, we tested a total of 1,090 vectors; one tick carried the bacterium. The preliminary results show that the detection of F. tularensis in arthropods that bite humans in regions with human tularemia is rare.

Zoonotic influenza (coordination: Elena Lucia Sassu and Sandra Revilla-Fernández).

Surveillance of zoonotic influenza in Austria has been strengthened through a series of targeted pilot studies coordinated by the National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza. The focus is on the active surveillance of influenza A viruses in wild birds, the surveillance of zoonotic influenza in domestic pigs and other wild mammals, and the improvement of communication between veterinary and public health authorities. Based on these findings, four pilot studies were carried out:

• Active surveillance in wild birds: As part of a tri-national project involving Austria, Germany and Switzerland, active surveillance is being implemented around Lake Constance to improve early warning systems and deepen knowledge of circulating highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. From 2024 to 2027, targeted samples will be collected and analysed year-round from asymptomatic wild birds, as well as environmental samples.
• Surveillance in domestic pigs: Retrospective testing for swine influenza viruses (SIV) was carried out on archived samples from between 1997 and 2023. Since early 2023, samples from Austrian pig farms that have tested positive for SIV in various testing laboratories have been proactively forwarded to the National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza for further subtyping of the influenza A virus using whole-genome sequencing (WGS).
• Surveillance of wild animals, particularly carnivores: Surveillance of zoonotic influenza in wild animals, such as foxes, badgers, martens, wolves, bats and wild boars, has been strengthened through parallel testing as part of the existing national surveillance programmes for rabies and African swine fever, as well as through enhanced cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Research Institute for Wildlife Ecology).
• Improving communication between veterinary and health authorities: A working group brings together representatives from veterinary and health authorities, the national reference laboratories and the local veterinary authorities of the federal states. The group is part of the Federal Zoonoses Commission and is tasked with strengthening cross-sectoral communication and promoting coordinated measures for One Health influenza surveillance. To this end, the group has developed a handbook that details the communication procedures between human and veterinary authorities in the event of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Austria. In addition, a horizon-scanning tool is regularly produced to facilitate the systematic exchange of knowledge on the global epidemiological situation regarding zoonotic influenza viruses. This tool specifically supports communication between the human and veterinary medicine sectors within AGES, as well as with the relevant ministries.

Benefits of the project

The aim of United4Surveillance is to strengthen the surveillance systems for infectious diseases at national level. The focus is on the three central technical work packages Outbreak Detection (WP2), Hospital Surveillance (WP3) and One Health Surveillance (WP4).

Further information

Website of the United4Surveillance project