About VectorNet
Climate change and changing ecological conditions, as well as trade and travel, influence the spread of arthropod vectors, creating favourable conditions for vector-borne diseases in previously unaffected areas. Since the presence of competent vectors is a prerequisite for the transmission of strictly vector-borne diseases, knowledge about vector distribution is of primordial importance for disease prevention and control.
VectorNet is a project of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which aims to contribute to improving preparedness for and response to vector-borne diseases, following a ‘One-Health’ approach.
VectorNet started in May 2014, and is now running its third iteration (2024–2028). VectorNet supports the collection of data on vectors related to both animal and human health. The project is structured in five work packages, fostering Collaboration, Preparedness, Agility, Communication and Project coordination and management.
VectorNet maintains a common database on the presence and distribution of vectors across Europe and the Mediterranean basin. This database is uploaded periodically on the GBIF VectorNet Data portal.
The primary outputs of VectorNet have been, and continue to be, the vector distribution maps at www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/disease-vectors and www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/vector-borne-diseases. The project also provides ad-hoc scientific advice to support ECDC and EFSA with technical questions on entomological aspects of vector-borne diseases in humans and animals. There are also many reports and tools produced by the VectorNet, many of these organized on the VectorNet website but others published by EFSA in their journals. The project is operated by a consortium of the following experts:
VectorNet experts
| Expertise | Lead | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| Mosquitoes | Alessandra della Torre | Francis Schaffner |
| Ticks | Annapaola Rizzoli | Kayleigh Hansford |
| Sand flies | Vít Dvořák | Bulent Alten |
| Culicoides | Thomas Balenghien | Maria Goffredo |
| Vector control | Antonios Michaelakis | Francis Schaffner |
| Epidemiology | René Bødker | Veerle Vanlerberghe |
| Trials | Veerle Vanlerberghe | Wim Van Bortel |
| Data analysis | Kamil Erguler | Cedric Marsboom |
| Systematic literature Review | Wim Van Bortel | Francesca Dagostin |
| Data management | Tom Matheussen | William Wint |
| Geographic Information Systems | William Wint | Cedric Marsboom |
| Project management | Cedric Marsboom | Marieta Braks |
The VectorNet project brings operational contact points for entomology of ECDC’s European Emerging and Vector-borne Diseases Network together with EFSA’s Network on Veterinary Entomology into the One-Health VectorNet Entomological Network (OHVEN).
The OHVEN network works closely together with the Animal Health network (AWN) of EFSA, and more in particular, with the sub-group on One health surveillance. Vector surveillance data collected in the EU by this subgroup are also validated by VectorNet and uploaded onto the GBIF VectorNet Data portal.
For further details of the AHW network, see: Risk Assessment in Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) network and its subgroups .