Decision support

Tilly Alcayna et al.
BMJ Global Health 2025;10:e017721

In the humanitarian sector, anticipatory action entails acting ahead of predicted hazardous events to prevent or mitigate potential impacts and needs. It leverages early warnings to bridge preparedness and response, with a core principle being the provision of ex-ante emergency funding for preagreed early actions. Traditionally applied to extreme climatic events, there is growing interest in integrating anticipatory action into disease outbreak preparedness and response. We present an analytical framework for trigger development for climate-sensitive infectious disease outbreaks based on a review of existing and emerging practices from the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, United Nations agencies and Médecins Sans Frontières since 2014. We propose that, depending on data availability, there are four broad approaches for trigger development.

DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017721

Marina Treskova et al.
MethodsX, Volume 14, 2025, 103102

Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, vectors of diseases like dengue and West Nile, breed in urban storm drains with stagnant water, a problem that may worsen in Europe due to climate change. To address this, the Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB) tested structural drain modifications in a randomised controlled trial, assigning 44 drains to either mosquito-proofing or no change and monitoring them weekly from June to November 2023. Outcomes focused on adult mosquito counts and presence of adults and larvae, with results to be analysed using statistical models to assess effectiveness and guide possible city-wide adoption.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.103102

Charnley, Gina E.C. et al.
The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Volume 53, 101271

Emerging vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are a major public health concern worldwide. Climate change, environmental degradation and globalisation have led to an expansion in the range of many vectors and an erosion of transmission barriers, increasing human exposure to new pathogens and the risk for emerging VBD outbreaks. Europe is potentially underprepared for the increasing threat of VBDs, due to attention and funding being diverted to other public health priorities. Proactive, rather than reactive, prevention and control approaches can greatly reduce the socio-economic toll of VBDs. Endemic countries globally have decades of experience in controlling VBDs, and Europe has much to learn from this knowledge. Here, we advocate for the expansion of transdisciplinary knowledge-sharing partnerships, to co-create proactive measures against VBDs. We present the experiences and expertise of our diverse international team and explore how an array of interventions can be applied and adapted to the European context.

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101271

Lowe R, Codeço CT.
Annu Rev Entomol. 2025 Jan;70(1):337-358.

In the last few decades, we have witnessed the emergence of new vector-borne diseases (VBDs), the globalization of endemic VBDs, and the urbanization of previously rural VBDs. Data harmonization forms the basis of robust decision-support systems designed to protect at-risk communities from VBD threats. Strong interdisciplinary partnerships, protocols, digital infrastructure, and capacity-building initiatives are essential for facilitating the coproduction of robust multisource data sets. This review provides a foundation for researchers and practitioners embarking on data harmonization efforts to (a) better understand the links among environmental degradation, climate change, socioeconomic inequalities, and VBD risk; (b) conduct risk assessments, health impact attribution, and projection studies; and (c) develop robust early warning and response systems. We draw upon best practices in harmonizing data for two well-studied VBDs, dengue and malaria, and provide recommendations for the evolution of research and digital technology to improve data harmonization for VBD risk management.

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-040124-015101