Monitoring viral circulation is an important part of the public health framework in developed countries, which in recent years have been actively implementing modern, innovative approaches and methods for monitoring biological risks. Systems developed in European countries based on wastewater-based epidemiology methodology ensure the early detection of new and re-emerging infections at the population level, helping to prevent the threat of infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics, and to contain and reduce biological risks to public health down to acceptable levels. The purpose of this study is to provide an in-depth analysis of the experience and tools used by European countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Ireland) in the development and operation of their national wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) systems. The study materials included scientific report and policy documents from Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, and the European Union on wastewater epidemiology. Sources were selected based on criteria of thematic relevance, semantic and functional significance, and relevance of scientific reports and regulatory documents. A search for literary sources and documents was conducted in the following databases: eLibrary and CyberLeninka in Russian; Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochran Library in English, German, and French; and national government and parliamentary databases of the aforementioned countries. The main research methods include content analysis, material systematization, retrospective analysis (evolution of the method), a systems approach (to studying monitoring networks), comparative analysis (of electronic health systems), and generalization (of experience).

Part 1 of the analytical review presents the evolution of the global application of the WBE principle. The essence and content of the WBE mechanism are revealed, and its key processes are highlighted. The primary focus in Europe is on the creation of national and joint WBE systems, united within the European Union, with a focus on the implementation of modern information and telecommunications technologies and artificial intelligence. The experience of France (the OBÉPINE project) is examined. Part 2 examines WBE systems operating in Europe, created under national projects: AMELAG (Germany), SARI (Italy), and NWSP (Ireland). A comparative analysis of the systems allowed identifying their common features, characteristics, and development directions of interest to relevant specialists in the Russian Federation.