During the E4Warning project, we are employing various methods to collect blood-engorged female mosquitoes to study their feeding patterns. The techniques include carbon-dioxide-baited BG-traps, mechanical aspiration with a powered vacuum aspirator, and artificial resting sites. Sampling began in April 2024 and will continue monthly until November 2024 for this year.

From June 10-15, we hosted Dr. Nathan Burkett-Cadena and Tanise Steen from the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, at our study area in Aiguamolls de l’Empordà (Girona, Spain). Their visit aimed to test these collection techniques and share their expertise. They brought vacuum aspirators and resting traps developed by their lab to evaluate their combined efficacy in capturing blood-fed female mosquitoes across different habitats.

The Florida researchers developed human-powered resting traps designed for cavity-resting mosquitoes like Culex. These traps, set among vegetation in dark areas, attract mosquitoes seeking refuge during the day. Traps are placed horizontally to attract Culex and vertically to attract Anopheles mosquitoes and are collected the following day.

To maximize mosquito collection, we combined resting shelter traps and BG-traps with a large-diameter aspirator. These aspirators, designed by Dr. Burkett-Cadena’s team, use an automotive radiator fan to create directional airflow, capturing mosquitoes in a mesh-bottom plastic collection cup.

The insights gained during this visit and throughout the 2024 mosquito season will help finalize protocols for capturing blood-fed females, aiding in our study of mosquito feeding patterns.

• Burkett-Cadena. 2011. A wire-frame shelter for collecting resting mosquitoes. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 27: 153–155
• Burkett-Cadena et al. 2019. Human-powered pop-up resting shelter for sampling cavity-resting mosquitoes. Acta Tropica 190: 288-292
• Sloyer et al. 2022. Evaluating sampling strategies for enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus vectors in Florida and Panama. PLoS Negl Trop Dis.16:e0010329
•  Jaworski et al. 2022. Artificial resting sites: An alternative sampling method for adult mosquitoes. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 36: 139–148

In April, Frederic Bartumeus and Alex Richter-Boix, members of the CSIC and Mosquito Alert team had the opportunity to participate in the WSA Global Congress held in the region of Los Lagos, Southern Chile, as winners of the WSG 2023.

At the congress, the team presented the Mosquito Alert tool developed by CSIC and UPF, an integral part of the E4Warning project aimed at enhancing the capabilities of monitoring and managing vectors and mosquito-borne diseases. Over recent years, the tool has proven its effectiveness and impact by detecting the early presence of invasive mosquitoes –like the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus– that can act as vectors, as well as capturing and modelling the dynamics of their populations, contributing to improving the management of mosquitoes in cities like Barcelona, Spain, in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Barcelona (ASPB) which are also partners of E4Warning.

The theme of this year’s WSA Congress, “planet_hack_,” was aptly chosen to highlight the urgent need to address climate change and the expanding opportunities for technological and environmental innovations that accompany this challenge. Participation in the event allowed to not only share the achievements and the impacts of the Mosquito Alert tool but also to engage with other innovators, fostering a network of contacts.

The congress was a celebration of impact entrepreneurship, aligning perfectly with the UN’s global goals and providing a platform for like-minded pioneers to connect and exchange ideas. The team returned energized, ready to build on the substantial progress already made in public health surveillance and excited about the promising new collaborations that arose from this inspiring event.

Read more about the event and the 2023 winner’s catalog here: https://wsa-global.org/2024/01/10/wsa-global-congress-2024-goes-chile/ 

We are thrilled to announce that the E4Warning project will be participating in an upcoming webinar on May 21st, 2024, at 11 AM CET entitled: Citizen Science in Environmental Observations and Health Research.  This webinar will explore innovative engagement strategies within Citizen Science initiatives and the impactful use of Mobile Applications, in collaboration with the OneAquaHealth project and Wise Angle Consulting S.L.

During this session, we will exchange experiences and insights on successful citizen engagement techniques. The first segment of the webinar will highlight citizen science approaches, featuring presentations from OneAquaHealth, DRYvER, and our very own E4WARNING project. We will delve into our collective experiences involving citizens, and the results obtained in Europe.

In the latter half of the webinar, we will concentrate on mobile apps as digitial solution, where the creators of Pharaon and Invasoras.pt Apps will offer a deep dive into the common challenges encountered while promoting these apps and designing them with a user-centric approach.

We are excited to share our journey and learn from our peers in this collaborative setting. Join us as we discuss, learn, and pave the way forward in the integration of community-driven science and technology for the betterment of environmental and health research.

Don’t wait and register here: https://www.oneaquahealth.eu/oneaquahealth-citizen-science-webinar-2024/

Eva Veronesi (SUPSI) attended the 6th International Workshop on Aedes albopictus in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from March 28-29, 2024. Organized by the Institute Pasteur of Cambodia, the workshop was led by Dr. Sébastien Boyer (head of the Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit at the Institute). The opening session was presided over by Prof. André Spiegel, Director of the Institute Pasteur of Cambodia, with the presence of Professor Chheang Ra, Minister of Health of Cambodia, Mr. Jacques Pellet, Ambassador of France to Cambodia, and Dr. Boyer, who delivered the introductory talk.

The Aedes albopictus, commonly known as the tiger mosquito, is a principal carrier of Dengue fever, Chikungunya, Zika, and at least 20 other significant pathogens impacting public health. Originating from the tropical and subtropical zones of Southeast Asia, the tiger mosquito has expanded its reach globally over the last century, facilitated by international trade and travel. Distinguished by distinctive white stripes on its legs and body, the species has adapted well to human environments. As a considerable nuisance, the tiger mosquito typically resides close to human habitats and is known for its daytime biting behavior, especially during early morning and late afternoon periods.

The event was focused on enhancing scientific collaboration and showing innovative vector control strategies. Key research topics covered included vector models of invasion and dispersal, and the role of the species as a bridge vector, including the influence of climate change on vector behavior. For that, the workshop unfolded five sessions:

• Aedes albopictus in Asia.
• Biology and Ecology of Aedes albopictus.
• Vector control: challenges and innovations.
• Vector control: insecticide resistance.
• New surveillance strategies.

It was during the session on innovative surveillance strategies that E4Warning was spotlighted. The presentation titled “The Role of E4Warning in Combating the Spread of Dengue in Asia and its Potential Incursion into Europe” by Eva Veronesi showcased to the audience the surveillance tools involved in the project, such as Mosquito Alert (CSIC, UPF), VECMAP (AVIA-GIS)  and the smart traps designed by IRIDEON. Additionally, it highlighted the dengue models developed by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and HR Wallingford.

Link to the agenda of the event: Agenda 6th International Workshop on Aedes albopictus

The Mosquito Alert tool, which is used in the E4Warning project and was developed by several consortium partners, has received international recognition at the WSA 2023. This award is given to digital solutions that contribute significantly to creating healthier, more sustainable, and inclusive urban environments.

The WSA awards, which were established within the framework of the United Nations World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS), aim to identify and promote digital innovations that positively impact society and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Out of 466 submissions from 88 countries, Mosquito Alert has been selected as one of the top 40 digital initiatives across eight different categories. This achievement highlights the effectiveness and relevance of the platform in addressing critical issues related to public health and environmental sustainability.

As part of this honor, the Mosquito Alert team will be joining other winners at the WSA World Congress 2024, which is scheduled from April 14 to 17 in the Chilean Patagonia. This event offers invaluable opportunities for networking, mentorship, and collaboration, further amplifying the impact of each project’s technological solutions on a global scale.

Mosquito Alert

Mosquito Surveillance through Citizen Engagement

Mosquito Alert is an initiative that engages the public in monitoring vector mosquitoes and studying the spread of invasive mosquito species. It is a “citizen observatory” coordinated by Spanish research institutions, including CSIC, UPF, and CREAF. This groundbreaking program aims to transform the traditional methods of mosquito surveillance by promoting citizen participation and the adoption of new technologies.

Mosquito Alert is supported by an extensive network of entomology and public health experts. It demonstrates the power of collaboration in addressing global health challenges. By empowering communities and leveraging cutting-edge technologies, the platform not only revolutionizes disease surveillance but also drives innovation in the management and prevention of mosquito-borne illnesses.

The Mosquito Alert platform plays a pivotal role in Work Package 2 (WP2) of the E4Warning project. WP2’s primary objective is to enhance the accuracy of AI-based mosquito image classification, thereby enabling the development of a real-time early warning system that can identify invasive species across multiple study sites of the E4Warning project. The proposed real-time early warning system will enable effective identification and monitoring of invasive mosquito species across different geographies, thereby bolstering the E4Warning project’s broader research efforts in this domain.

E4Warning participated in the high-level conference “Research Perspectives on the Health Impacts of Climate Change,” organized by the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) of the European Commission. This event, held in Brussels on February 19th and 20th, 2024, aimed to highlight the crucial nexus between climate change and global health issues.

Chloe Fletcher, a PhD candidate from the Global Health Resilience group at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), attended the conference. Her research focuses on developing statistical models for predicting outbreaks of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, such as dengue and leptospirosis. Fletcher presented a poster titled “A Generalized Modelling Framework for Dengue Early Warning Systems in South and Southeast Asia,” a collaborative effort involving Ramy Hoek Spaans (BSC), Sophie Belman (BSC), Chloe Fletcher (BSC), Quillon Harpham (HRW), Gina Tsarouchi (HRW), and Rachel Lowe (BSC), all contributing to the E4Warning project.

This study aims to broaden the successful application of the Dengue Forecasting Model Satellite-based System (D-MOSS), originally implemented in Vietnam, to include Sri Lanka and Malaysia. By employing a Bayesian modeling approach and contrasting it with the conventional practices of dengue outbreak monitoring in each nation, the research seeks to identify which dengue predictors remain consistent or vary across these diverse regions.

The goal is to establish a universally applicable template for developing dengue early warning systems. The D-MOSS platform, which underpins this forecasting system, is managed by HR Wallingford. A key ambition of E4Warning is to collaborate intimately with local partners to deliver actionable data visualizations, thereby enabling an informed, data-driven approach to dengue management.

You can view the summaries of other posters presented during the conference at this link.

In November, Kamran Safi from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior visited the CEAB-CSIC team leaded by Frederic Bartumeus and the Girona study area: the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park. This visit was instrumental in familiarizing with the study area and engaging with local stakeholders: the park staff, regional mosquito control officials, and local ornithologists.

The meeting facilitated the selection of five common and abundant bird species present across various study zones for tracking their mobility patterns using GPS or Sigfox biologging. While bird migration and mobility have been studied on large scales, there’s limited data on the daily mobility of resident species and the impact of the landscape on their movements. Understanding these aspects is vital to determine the role different species play in transmitting pathogens like the West Nile virus across areas, such as from marshes or rice fields to peri-urban or urban zones.

Wild birds, being primary hosts of the virus, play a crucial role in its spread, thereby shaping the epidemiology of the disease. Assessing how they connect habitats and transfer pathogens is particularly crucial in human-altered landscapes where pathogen spillover between birds and humans can be facilitated. The lack of detailed information in the dissemination process of zoonotic pathogens undermines risk assessments and management plans. A key goal of WP5 is to quantify the mobility of various host species to develop a spatially-explicit approach to wildlife epidemiology.

The XI International Conference of the EMCA, held from November 7th to 10th, 2023, in Palma de Mallorca, served as a gathering for vector control specialists to share research and insights. With the theme “Shaping the Future of Vector Control in Europe,” the conference was organized by Dr. Francis Schaffner, president of EMCA, along with Dr. Carlos Barceló and Prof. Miguel A. Miranda from the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB). Among the highlights was E4Warning’s presentation on their Mark-Release-Recapture (MRR) experiments with Culex pipiens mosquitoes.

Eva Veronesi from SUPSI discussed the developed protocol for breeding, marking, and recapturing these mosquitoes and shared preliminary results from two pilot studies conducted in Switzerland last September. These studies are vital for understanding mosquito behavior and movement, key factors in vector-borne disease control.

The MRR technique, a fundamental method in ecological studies, involves capturing, marking, and releasing individuals back into their environment, then recapturing them after a period. This technique provides insights into movement patterns, survival rates, and population sizes, crucial for ecological and epidemiological studies.

In the summer of 2024, these methodologies will be applied in Switzerland and Spain to study the dispersal capacity of Culex mosquitoes, especially Culex pipiens and Culex molestus, which are known for transmitting the West Nile Virus (WNV).

These experiments are part of Work Package 5 (WP5) in the E4Warning project, which focuses on quantifying and understanding the movements of both vectors (mosquitoes) and hosts (birds) in WNV transmission. The data obtained will be instrumental in developing strategies to control WNV in Europe.

Additionally, the conference served as a valuable meeting point for various partners involved in the E4Warning project. This opportunity for face-to-face interaction and collaboration among researchers and specialists was crucial for fostering synergy and advancing the project’s objectives. Such gatherings reinforce the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing public health challenges like vector-borne diseases.

The early warning system for dengue fever in Vietnam, developed by D-MOSS as part of the E4Warning initiative, has been highlighted as a significant success story during the launch of the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) “Climate Services for Health” report launched the past 2th November 2023. Rachel Lowe from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) represented the project, elaborating on the vital work performed by E4Warning.

The presentation underscored how this advanced system is making strides in public health by providing early warnings of dengue fever outbreaks. By harnessing climate data and predictive modeling, the system is aiding Vietnam in taking preemptive measures to mitigate the impact of this vector-borne disease, thereby safeguarding communities and strengthening the resilience of health systems.

The latest World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) State of Climate Services report delivers a compelling message about the intricate connection between our changing climate and public health. The report acts as a clarion call, highlighting the dire need for precise climate information and services to bolster the health sector amid escalating threats from extreme weather events, evolving disease patterns, and the looming specter of food and water scarcity.

Prof. Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General, brings to the forefront the widespread occurrence of heatwaves across the globe, further intensified by the imminent onset of El Niño. This scenario sets a backdrop for heightened temperature records, amplifying the urgency for increased investment and collaborative efforts to elevate the role of climate science. By doing so, health partners can gain critical support in times when our climate’s unpredictability takes a tangible toll on human health.

In alignment with Prof. Taalas’s observations, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus defines the climate crisis as an escalating health crisis. He underlines the vital need for access to high-quality climate services within the health sector to counteract the perilous effects of climate change on human well-being.

Despite this clear need, the report reveals a gap: climate data often does not permeate health decision-making processes as it should. This disconnect points to an essential requirement for improved early warning systems, especially since disaster events are anticipated to surge, with less-prepared countries facing significantly higher mortality rates.

The focus then shifts to the underestimation of extreme heat’s health impacts. Highlighting the efforts of the Early Warnings for All initiative, the report underscores the necessity to expand heat warning services, which are currently absent in many vulnerable regions.

Ultimately, the WMO report connects the dots between the adverse effects of climate change on various aspects of health — from the quality of the air we breathe to the nutritional security of our food and the control of infectious diseases. It’s a comprehensive wake-up call for cross-sectoral action, aiming to fortify the health community against the multifaceted challenges posed by a warming world. This post serves to emphasize that climate action is not just an environmental imperative but a crucial facet of global health strategy.

Tangible solutions

The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) State of Climate Services report doesn’t just outline the challenges; it showcases tangible solutions through success stories where climate services have made significant inroads in health outcomes. One such example is the early warning system for dengue in Vietnam, which was presented as a beacon of the potential benefits of climate services for health. This system, alongside other initiatives from Africa, Europe, the Pacific, and the Pan-American region, represents the strides being made in marrying meteorological insights with health sector needs.

The State of Climate Services report can be downloaded here.

The 2nd International One-Health Conference, held in Barcelona on October 19-20, 2023, saw a distinguished assembly of professionals from diverse fields come together to advance the multidisciplinary conversation on public health. Among the attendees was Frederic Bartumeus from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), who presented the groundbreaking work of E4Warning.

With health being an essential aspect of modern society, the conference set forth the goal of bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and policy-making through a One Health approach—a holistic and integrated perspective on health that considers human, animal, and environmental well-being. The event aimed to foster synergistic dialogues among research fields and action domains, engaging researchers, experts, students, and decision-makers.

Central to the congress were the framing questions that challenge current paradigms and seek to integrate the One-Health framework into the health sector comprehensively. Discussions revolved around the inclusion of the One-Health framework in legislation under the EU, understanding the interlinkages between health, climate change, and decision-making, and identifying the concerns health professionals have regarding the One Health concept. The conference sought not only to outline the open questions but also to explore opportunities and solutions to overcome barriers to implementing the One-Health approach.

In this context, Frederic Bartumeus presented E4Warning’s contribution to enhancing urban resilience capacities through the One Health approach. He outlined the innovative tools developed as part of E4Warning and the various methodologies employed to address the risks of mosquito-borne diseases within the framework of eco-epidemiological intelligence. His presentation shed light on the project’s interdisciplinary strategies for early warning and response, which are crucial in the context of a changing climate and emerging health threats.

Bartumeus’s participation underscored the pivotal role of E4Warning in providing actionable solutions and insights, reinforcing the importance of integrating scientific research with policy and decision-making. The conference also had the participation of Maria Feio from the University of Coimbra, who’s  contribution to the conference centered around the innovative OneAquaHealth project, which underscores the potential of earth observations to monitor changes in urban aquatic ecosystems that are pertinent to human health.

The 2nd International One-Health Conference was more than a meeting of minds; it was a step forward in operationalizing the One Health concept in a way that meets the pressing health challenges of our times.