Context

Since the end of the 20th century, the world has witnessed an increase in the occurrence of infectious epidemics. This rise is due to the disruption of the human-animal-environment interface. Globalization (trade, animals, and humans), environmental modifications notably increased urbanization, climate change, intensive livestock farming offer new opportunities for the emergence and spread of diseases.

This is particularly true for vector-borne diseases, whose incidence and spread have been increasing, allowing pathogens to re-emerge or to invade new territories. According to WHO, 80% of the world population is at risk of encountering one or more vector-borne diseases causing more than 700 000 deaths annually and leading to debilitating chronic conditions.

Viral vector-borne diseases, circulating at the human-animal-environment interface, pose a significant risk of diseases emergences in both humans and livestock, leading to major health and economic consequences. Indeed, the economic burden of vector-borne diseases to society is significant. For governments in endemic countries, this includes the costs of vector control activities and of case management. For households, this relates to expenditures towards personal protective measures and/or treatment as well as foregone income due to reduced productivity or time off work due to illness or caregiving to sick household members . For instance, the cost for Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya from 1975 to 2000 amounted to at least US$ 94.7 billion and has increased by 14-fold in relation with the increased incidence of these disease.

The Mediterranean region which lies at the crossroads of continents with intense trade, tourism, and migration, is particularly vulnerable to vector-borne diseases outbreaks occurrence and the impacts of climate change. In this context, epidemic preparedness is no longer optional, it is essential.

How do we contain diseases transmitted by vectors that don’t know borders? The answer lies in our capacity to detect unusual events at an early stage and implement control measures rapidly. It requires efficient cooperation from the human and animal health sectors as well as the medical entomology sector.

To address these issues, the CBRN Center of Excellence launched the MediLabSecure project in 2014 to prevent these emerging biological risks in countries around the Mediterranean region. The strategy was to set up a groundbreaking One Health network in 22 EU neighboring countries connecting in each country 5 complementary sectors of the One Health approach within 111 national reference laboratories and public health institutions, to strengthen their preparedness and response capacities to face vector-borne diseases threats.

After 10 years of capacity building implementation, this unique One Health network is now ready for further development by promoting in-country initiatives and supporting One Health advocacy to national stakeholders to leverage political engagement.

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Global vector control response 2017–2030. Geneva: World Health Organization (2017). Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. 

The rising global economic costs of invasive Aedes mosquitoes and Aedes-borne diseases - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173054