Health preparedness: Designation of new EU public health reference laboratory on respiratory viruses

The European Commission has adopted an implementing act designating the next EU reference laboratory (EURL) for public health, dedicated to respiratory viruses. This designation supports the EU’s ambition to step up preparedness and response to serious cross-border threats. It is particularly relevant given the number of patients currently seeking care across the EU/EEA due to a significantly high circulation of respiratory viruses.

The laboratories designated in the act can now apply to the call for proposals to receive around 14 million EUR in funding under the EU4Health programme for the first five years.

EURLs support national public health laboratories by ensuring data comparability and capacity strengthening on laboratory methods at the EU level. This includes efforts to align on diagnostics and testing for surveillance, notification and reporting of diseases, as well as bringing together scientific expertise across the EU to improve preparedness, rapid detection and response.