Freely available geodata help in the fight against the tiger mosquito!

Freely available geodata help in the fight against the tiger mosquito!

Heidelberg, Deutschland - freely available geodata to combat mosquitoes offer new approaches to public health. The Egyptian tiger mosquito, scientifically known as AEDES Aegypti, is an important transmitter of diseases such as Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya. This mosquito prefers to breed in standing water, which collects in artificial containers such as water tanks and tires. With increasing urbanization, its habitat grows and is a serious challenge for the health systems. Knoblauch from the research group geoinformatics on the IWR, which highlights the importance of precise cards for effective vector control.

Current vaccinations against the diseases transmitted by Aedes Aegypti are limited, so that apart from yellow fever, vector controls such as the elimination of breeding sites and the use of insecticides remain the most efficient methods for combating. The challenge is to precisely map the high spatial variability of the mosquito populations. Conventional monitoring systems prove to be insufficient. Researchers have found that the use of freely available geodata, including satellite and street view images, can be valuable help to overcome these restrictions.

new mapping methods

With the help of geodata, up to 75 percent of the spatial variations of the Egyptian tiger mosquito in cities such as Rio de Janeiro could be modeled. Dr. Knoblauch and his team won 79 environmental appropriation indicators for the mosquito that take into account factors such as breeding facilities and climatic conditions. A special Bayes’s model allows it to appreciate the occurrence of the mosquitoes about space and time. This new method has led to the development of the first spatially related environmental approval card at the Habitate level, which enables targeted interventions in urban areas.

The international research project, in which scientists from Brazil, Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Thailand and the USA are involved, received support from the German Research Foundation and the Austrian Science Fund. The results were published in the journal "The Lancet Planetary Health".

monitoring of vector diseases in France

In France, monitoring of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika is also a central concern. As part of increased surveillance, numerous measures were taken between May 1 and November 30, 2024. During this time, 11 local speeches of the Dengue were identified, which have been the highest number since surveillance began in 2006. These challenges required immediate epidemiological and entomological examinations as well as control measures.

The Aedes Albopictus, also known as the Tiger mosquito, has been widespread in France since 2004. In 2024, a total of 2,120 imported cases were registered by Dengue, as well as 25 imported cases of Chikungunya. During this period, a first autochthonian case was documented by Chikungunya in Île-de-France. The epidemiological situation is further complicated by the above challenges in the region.

European perspectives

At the same time, a European consortium examines the vector -handed infections (VBI) and their social and ecological influences. The EU-financed EdenExt project has developed modern methods for prevention, monitoring and control of vector populations in order to lower the transmission risks for people and animals in Europe. Research focuses on the development of more effective control strategies through the analysis of biological mechanisms, ecological processes and understanding virus reserves.

The results of these projects and international cooperation will be crucial to prevent future epidemics and to protect public health sustainably. The challenges in the area of vector control require innovative approaches to minimize the increasing risks of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.

For more information, visit the following pages: Santé Publique france , Cordis .