A new frontier in mosquito-borne disease control
Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and West Nile Virus represent a growing threat to global health. Each year, an estimated 390 million dengue infections occur, causing up to 36,000 deaths. While the impact is highest in tropical and subtropical regions, the increase in autochthonous cases in Europe since 2010 raises concerns about the potential spread of these diseases to temperate areas.
To address this challenge, the EU-funded E4Warning initiative is transforming the approach to the prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases. This project adopts a holistic approach that integrates cutting-edge scientific knowledge and technology to develop early warning and response systems in endemic and emerging contexts. At the core of E4Warning is eco-epidemiological intelligence, an interdisciplinary framework that considers the interactions between humans, mosquitoes, reservoir species, and the environment to anticipate and identify epidemic risks.
Growing threat and the need for action
Mosquito-borne diseases are no longer confined to specific geographic regions. Climate change and globalization have facilitated their spread, creating significant health and economic challenges. To address this growing emergency, the E4Warning consortium, comprising 12 organizations from Spain, Germany, Greece, Belgium, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, has developed innovative, data-driven solutions for early detection and timely intervention.
Multidisciplinary approach and technological innovation
The project employs advanced technologies to collect real-time information on mosquito behavior and disease spread. Vector ecology and surveillance provide high-quality data for scalable and flexible epidemic intelligence. The study of ecosystem barriers helps understand the dispersal capacities of hosts and vectors in complex landscapes. Earth observation data allow for the estimation and forecasting of mosquito prevalence and disease risk, while epidemiological forecasting enables the anticipation of dengue outbreaks in South Asia and other endemic areas. Human mobility analysis helps understand how human activities influence disease exposure and the spread of invasive mosquitoes. Finally, dengue importation risk models use data on disease prevalence in endemic areas and global traffic routes to predict connectivity and dissemination risks.
Project structure and work packages
E4Warning is organized into eight interconnected work packages. Coordination and management ensure the effective implementation of the project and compliance with funding agreements. Citizen science mosquito surveillance expands existing expert-validated monitoring systems. The improvement of smart mosquito traps enables automatic identification and classification of vectors in real-world environments. The use of earth observation data and hydroclimatic models helps forecast vector seasonality and activity based on environmental conditions. The study of vector, animal, and human movement ecology sheds light on dispersal dynamics and ecosystem barriers in disease transmission. Disease risk models in endemic settings integrate surveillance data to predict the emergence of new hotspots. The analysis of emerging risks in Europe connects importation models with human, mosquito, and bird mobility dynamics to better understand transmission pathways. Finally, capacity building, policy engagement, and data exploitation ensure interaction with stakeholders, policymakers, and the scientific community to maximize the project’s impact.
Study sites and experimental research
E4Warning operates across different geographic scales, combining continental, regional, and local data with experimental studies. Surveillance activities for Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are conducted in cities such as Barcelona, a high-density Mediterranean urban setting; Athens, a migratory hub with malaria and dengue concerns; BrasÃlia, a tropical metropolis with endemic dengue transmission; and Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, tropical cities with high dengue prevalence. Zoonotic transmission studies and pathogen spillover potential from natural reservoirs to peri-urban and urban areas focus on ecosystems such as Aiguamolls de l’Empordà in Spain, a rice field region with a fluctuating seasonal population; Schinia-Marathona in Greece, a bird migration area with recorded malaria and dengue cases; Bodanrück in Germany, a mosaic of wetlands, agricultural, and urban areas; and Bolle di Magadino in Switzerland, a site under surveillance for tiger mosquitoes and urban vectors.
Integration with public health systems
The effectiveness of E4Warning is enhanced by its integration into public health systems. By collaborating with agencies such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the project provides predictive data and models to policymakers, enabling targeted and timely epidemic containment measures.
The need for collaboration
Despite the progress made, E4Warning continues to face complex challenges, including mosquito population variability and global health system management. However, the project’s success serves as a concrete example of how scientific innovation, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration can improve the prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases.
A new paradigm in mosquito-borne disease control
E4Warning represents a paradigm shift in vector-borne disease management. By combining innovative technology, data-driven insights, and collective participation, the project offers an effective strategy for a healthier future. Its impact will demonstrate how collaboration and knowledge integration can strengthen global health security. In a world where every challenge presents an opportunity for innovation, E4Warning stands as a beacon of hope, paving the way for a future free from mosquito-borne diseases.
