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Access a comprehensive collection of scientific publications resulting from research conducted as part of the IDAlert project.
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Uncovering temperature sensitivity of West Nile virus transmission: Novel computational approaches to mosquito-pathogen trait responses

Heidecke et al. – PLOS Computational Biology, Volume 19, e1012866

This study introduces a computational framework to assess temperature sensitivity in mosquito-pathogen interactions, focusing on West Nile virus (WNV). Using experimental data across 15 mosquito species, the authors estimate temperature response functions for key traits influencing WNV transmission. They find an optimal transmission temperature around 24°C for Culex species and highlight key areas for future research to improve transmission models under climate change.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012866

Short-term effect of temperature and precipitation on the incidence of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease in Europe: a multi-country case-crossover analysis

Moirano, Giovenale et al. – The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Volume 48, 101149

In recent years, Europe has experienced several outbreaks of West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne pathogen. This study aims to quantify the impact of weekly mean temperature and cumulative precipitation on human cases of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND), to assess the feasibility of climate-informed early warning systems for severe forms of WNV infection.

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101149

Heat stress and the labour force

Dasgupta, S., Robinson, E.J.Z., Shayegh, S. et al. – Nat Rev Earth Environ 5, 859–872,

Heat stress affects the health of workers through physiological and behavioural responses, in turn, affecting the labour force through impacts on labour supply, labour productivity and labour capacity. In this Review, we explore the extent to which heat stress affects the labour force and discuss the corresponding occupational health and economic impacts. DOI: 10.1038/s43017-024-00606-1

Residual Longevity of Recaptured Sterile Mosquitoes as a Tool to Understand Field Performance and Reveal Quality.

Balatsos, G et al. – Insects 2024, 15, 826

The current study focused on understanding the longevity and frailty of sterile, non-sterile, and wild male mosquitoes subjected to different treatments, using the novel captive cohort method. Key findings include that marking mosquitoes, following IAEA protocols, had an insignificant effect on longevity under controlled conditions, and that sterilization had no negative effect on male longevity.

DOI: 10.3390/insects15110826

Mitigating the Threat of Invasive Mosquito Species Expansion: A Comprehensive Entomological Surveillance Study on Kastellorizo, a Remote Greek Island

Bisia, M. et al. – Insects 2024, 15, 724

This paper details a study on Kastellorizo island that tracked mosquito species, including the invasive Asian tiger mosquito, using KAP surveys, mosquito traps, and species identification to assess mosquito prevalence and community preparedness. The research revealed the presence of disease-carrying mosquito species and highlighted the need for increased public education and community involvement in mosquito monitoring to develop effective control strategies in isolated areas.

DOI: 10.3390/insects15090724

Evolutionary dynamics of the successful expansion of pandemic Vibrio parahaemolyticus ST3 in Latin America

Campbell, A.M. et al. – Nature Communications 15, 7828

The evolutionary mechanisms behind global pathogen strain expansions are not well understood, but the spread of the Vibrio parahaemolyticus clone (VpST3) in Latin America offers key insights. This study found that the VpST3 strain was introduced in Latin America earlier than previously thought, adapting successfully to local marine climates through genetic changes that improved resilience and environmental fitness. These findings reveal how this marine pathogen can expand globally by evolving to thrive in distinct climate conditions.

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52159-y

Human–Environment Interactions Shape Mosquito Seasonal Population Dynamics

Blanco-Sierra, L. et al. – Insects 2024, 15(7), 527

This study investigates the factors influencing local populations of Aedes albopictus, a highly invasive mosquito species known for its role in spreading vector-borne diseases. Aimed at enhancing vector control effectiveness, the research focused on understanding the interplay between meteorological elements, human activity, and pest management efforts in determining mosquito abundance at local scales. 

DOI: 10.3390/insects15070527 

A climatic suitability indicator to support Leishmania infantum surveillance in Europe: a modelling study

A climatic suitability indicator to support Leishmania infantum surveillance in Europe: a modelling study Carvalho, Bruno M. et al. – The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Volume 43, 100971

Leishmaniases are neglected diseases transmitted by sand flies. They disproportionately affect vulnerable groups globally. Understanding the relationship between climate and disease transmission allows the development of relevant decision-support tools for public health policy and surveillance. The aim of this modelling study was to develop an indicator that tracks climatic suitability for Leishmania infantum transmission in Europe at the subnational level.

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.100971

The 2024 Europe report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: unprecedented warming demands unprecedented action

Kim Robin van Daalen et al. – The Lancet Public Health, Volume 9, Issue 7

In 2023, record-breaking temperatures were recorded globally, with Europe warming at twice the global average, posing severe health risks. The Lancet Countdown in Europe, established in 2021, tracks health impacts of climate change to push for urgent climate-responsive actions. The 2023 report, now expanded to 42 indicators, highlights the worsening health impacts, Europe’s delayed climate action, and emphasizes the need to address inequality and justice in climate responsibility and health risks.

DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00055-0

The global health community at international climate change negotiations

Kim Robin van Daalen et al. – Crossref

This article highlights the growing involvement of the global health community in international climate change negotiations, particularly at COP28, which saw the largest-ever turnout of health professionals. It emphasizes how health actors are increasingly influential, with health goals integrated into 91% of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and COP28 featuring over 200 health-related events, significant funding commitments, and the endorsement of a political declaration on climate and health by 149 countries.

DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015292

Field evaluation of an automated mosquito surveillance system which classifies Aedes and Culex mosquitoes by genus and sex

Field evaluation of an automated mosquito surveillance system which classifies Aedes and Culex mosquitoes by genus and sex
González-Pérez MI et al. – Parasit Vectors. 2024 Mar 1;17(1):97

Mosquito-borne diseases are a major concern for public and veterinary health authorities, highlighting the importance of effective vector surveillance and control programs. Traditional surveillance methods are labor-intensive and do not provide high temporal resolution, which may hinder a full assessment of the risk of mosquito-borne pathogen transmission. Emerging technologies for automated remote mosquito monitoring have the potential to address these limitations; however, few studies have tested the performance of such systems in the field.

DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06177

The effect of temporal data aggregation to assess the impact of changing temperatures in Europe: an epidemiological modelling study

Joan Ballester et al. – Lancet Regional Health Europe
This paper highlights the use of weekly and monthly data as a viable alternative to daily health records in estimating temperature-related mortality, particularly when access to daily data is restricted. The findings show that while weekly models slightly underestimate cold and heat-related deaths, especially during extreme events, they still provide reliable estimates and can be useful for research and policy-making.

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100779

The 2023 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: the imperative for a health-centred response in a world facing irreversible harms

Marina Romanello et al. – The Lancet

The Lancet Countdown is an international research collaboration that independently monitors the evolving impacts of climate change on health, and the emerging health opportunities of climate action. In its eighth iteration, this 2023 report draws on the expertise of 114 scientists and health practitioners from 52 research institutions and UN agencies worldwide to provide its most comprehensive assessment yet.

DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01859-7

Inequality and growth impacts of climate change—insights from South Africa

Shouro Dasgupta, Johannes Emmerling, Soheil Shayegh – Environmental Research Letters

This article examines the effects of climate change on economic inequality and growth in South Africa. It highlights the uneven burden climate change places on vulnerable populations and suggests how policy interventions can mitigate these impacts to promote equitable and sustainable growth.

DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad0448

Approaching unsafe limits: climate-related health inequities within and beyond Europe

Kim R. van Daalen et al. – The Lancet Regional Health. Europe, Vol 31, Iss , Pp 100683- (2023)

The article from The Lancet Regional Health – Europe presents a new framework to tackle climate-sensitive infectious diseases in Europe. It emphasizes the need for decision-support tools and policy-relevant indicators to track and respond to climate-induced health risks. The framework, developed under the IDAlert project, integrates a One Health approach, connecting human, animal, and environmental health for better disease monitoring, resilience, and preparedness across sectors​.

DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100683

Chapter 12 Early warning systems for vector-borne diseases: engagement, methods and implementation

Emilie Finch et al. – Planetary health approaches to understand and control vector-borne diseases | Chapter 12

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) cause over 700,000 deaths yearly, worsened by climate change and urbanization. Climate-informed early warning systems (EWS) use climate data to predict outbreaks, enabling faster public health responses. Despite their success in disaster risk reduction, EWS are underused in health, with few operational tools available.

DOI: 10.3920/9789004688650_014

Towards a leptospirosis early warning system in northeastern Argentina

Lotto Batista M et al. – J. Roy. Soc. Interface

This study demonstrates that hydrometeorological indicators, including El Niño, precipitation, and river height, are strong predictors of leptospirosis outbreaks in northeastern Argentina. By using a Bayesian modelling framework, the researchers found that climate-driven models accurately detected 89% of outbreaks, suggesting that such tools could effectively contribute to an early warning system for leptospirosis in the region.

DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0069

West Nile virus eco-epidemiology and climate change

Julian Heidecke; Andrea Lavarello Schettini; Joacim Rocklöv – Crossref

This review explores WNV’s eco-epidemiology, the role of modeling in knowledge generation, and the importance of a One Health approach for better surveillance and policy development.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000129

The role of global reanalyses in climate services for health: Insights from the Lancet Countdown

Claudia Di Napoli et al. – Meteorological Applications

This article highlights the need for climate-smart decisions in public health due to extreme weather events. The Lancet Countdown system uses reanalysis datasets like ERA5 to track global climate-related health impacts, such as heatwaves and disease transmission, and provides indicators to measure these effects. Public health professionals should collaborate to refine these datasets for better health outcomes.

DOI: 10.1002/met.2122

European projections of West Nile virus transmission under climate change scenarios

Zia Farooq et al. – One Health, Vol 16, Iss , Pp 100509- (2023), 16 February 2023
West Nile virus (WNV) risk in Europe is expected to rise significantly due to climate change. Projections show up to a 5-fold increase in outbreaks by 2040-60, with affected areas growing from 15% to 23-30%, putting up to 244 million people at risk. Western Europe faces the highest risk, driven by climate conditions favorable for WNV transmission, necessitating stronger public health measures.

DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100509

The labour force in a changing climate: Research and policy needs

Shouro Dasgupta; Elizabeth J. Z. Robinson – Crossref

This article examines the impacts of climate change on population displacement and human health. It highlights how rising temperatures and extreme weather events exacerbate health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000131

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