The International Conference

To have established the pathway leading to a Global Wastewater Sentinel System as an early alert system for public health, the European Commission, supported by the German Ministry of Health (Bundesgesundheitsministerium), the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport and Housing – State of Hessen, Hessen Trade & Invest, as well as the Bill-and-Melinda Gates Foundation, in coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO), orchestrated the International Conference “Towards a Global Wastewater Surveillance System for Public Health”. This event garnered endorsement and participation from numerous state and non-state entities, including national health agencies, philanthropic organisations, research groups and the private sector.

The primary objective of the International Conference was to lay the foundation for a Global Wastewater Consortium, ensuring the seamless integration of wastewater-based surveillance into core public health functions.

Key questions addressed during the conference included,“How do we build the necessary capacities to detect novel health threats? How do we ensure an effective response to outbreaks and incidents? What is the best way to ensure financial sustainability for low- and middle-income countries, and how to arrive at informed public health action?”

These critical inquiries were thoroughly explored in the beautiful city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, during the dates of November 15-17, 2023.

Herein lies the agenda and the main outcomes presented during the conference.