Fifth meeting of the European Regional Laboratory Task Force for emerging and re-emerging pathogens: report of the virtual meeting, 14–15 October 2025

Overview

The WHO Regional Office for Europe held the fifth meeting of the European Regional Laboratory Task Force for emerging and re-emerging pathogens online, on 14 and 15 October 2025. The expected outcomes of this meeting were an update for countries, territories and areas on the Public Health Laboratory Recognition Programme for pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential. The aims of the meeting were to present tools that can be used to strengthen genomic surveillance capacities, improve networking and collaboration among laboratories and agree on next steps to enhance national laboratory preparedness.