EcoAlert

Arbovirus outbreaks are widespread, unexplained and unpredictable. This makes current surveillance approaches focusing on Arbovirusesindividual diseases and exotic vector populations inadequate, financially unsustainable, and unsatisfying for decision making by public health officials in early stages of emergence. In collaboration with those responsible for implementing the Dutch zoonosis surveillance system, we will develop a science based generic sampling protocol for early detection of emergence of top 3 mosquito-borne and tick-borne viruses in ecological hot-spots using the hazard analysis of critical control points methodology. We will design a ready-to-use multiplex surveillance test that detects exposure to multiple viruses, their vectors or both. It will be customized for use by clinicians, veterinarians, entomologists, virologists and other professionals forming part of the early warning infrastructure in the Netherlands. In addition, a state-of-the-art early warning system will be provided, organized according to type of viral threat.
Artemis One Health leads the project’s task of identifying the most relevant resident bird reservoir species for early warning of West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis virus emergence in the Netherlands.

Status: Ongoing…