Vienna Opens Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses
As of October 1, 2025, the Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses at the Medical University of Vienna (MU Vienna), Center for Virology, officially began operations. Commissioned by the Austrian Ministry of Health, the new facility is designed to monitor seasonal respiratory illnesses such as influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.
“Being prepared at the start of the flu season is crucial. The new reference center provides objective and reliable data with which we can forecast infection waves more accurately and respond faster and more targeted,” says Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig, State Secretary for Health.
Purpose and Sentinel Surveillance
The core activity is the so-called sentinel surveys. Each week, samples are collected from patients presenting with acute respiratory symptoms in outpatient settings and subjected to virological analysis. When a respiratory pathogen is detected, a detailed typing is performed, including assessment of emerging virus variants. This enables a precise understanding of how viruses spread, which Erreger types are circulating, and the resulting disease burden.
How Sentinel Surveillance Works
In practice, the center aggregates data from representative outpatients to create a real-time picture of circulating respiratory viruses. The combination of routine testing and variant characterization helps public health authorities anticipate peaks, tailor vaccination and mitigation strategies, and allocate resources where they are most needed.
Impact on Public Health and Preparedness
The information generated by the center supports proactive decision-making. By providing timely, evidence-based insights into trends and variant emergence, health authorities can issue targeted guidance, adjust hospital readiness, and protect vulnerable populations during the influenza season and beyond.
Operational Details and Collaboration
The center operates within the MU Vienna framework, collaborating with regional clinics and national health agencies. Its virological analyses, combined with epidemiological data, contribute to both national surveillance and international networks tracking the global evolution of respiratory viruses.
What This Means for the Coming Season
With the new reference center in place, Austria gains enhanced visibility into circulating pathogens and their potential to cause illness waves. The ability to detect novel variants quickly supports faster public health responses, improved clinical guidance, and more resilient health system planning during the upcoming respiratory season.
About the Initiative
Located at the Medical University of Vienna within the Center for Virology, the facility represents a strategic investment in continuous respiratory disease surveillance. It underscores a commitment to evidence-based policymaking, stronger outbreak readiness, and ongoing collaboration across the healthcare system to protect public health.
