Medical entomology

The MediLabSecure project includes the creation of a network of medical entomology laboratories in the 19 non-EU countries from the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions.

Vectors of interest

The medical entomology working group will focus on mosquitoes identified as present threats or with potential risk of emergence in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions:

Aedes sp.

Vectors responsible for transmission of Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika virus to humans are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

Culex spp.

The impact on human and horse health of West Nile Fever, transmitted mainly by Culex mosquitoes, recently and dramatically increased in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. Involving several mosquito and vertebrate species, WNF epidemiology is complex and a lot of research and training is still needed for a better understanding of its vector.

Create a network of laboratories specializing in mosquitoes

Laboratories play a key role in the recognition of infectious diseases. 

The creation and the management of a network of laboratories specializing in mosquitoes and arbovirus transmision help in the identification of needs in participating countries in terms of monitoring, diagnostics and biosafety.

Training modules, visits from experts, identification tools, and workshops all help to assess the risks of different emerging viruses. Depending on the needs of each benificiary area, training and exchanges will be introduced. 

Training in medical entomology

Tailored trainings sessions for have been planned in 2015-2016, enabling laboratory members to develop capacity building in mosquito vector of arboviruses (sampling, determination, surveillance) and to enhance regional cooperation

• 8-12 June, 2015 - Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Serbia.
  Concerned countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Moldova, Serbia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
  Have a look at the programme / training feedback in video (5'57)/ Pictures
  

• 7-11 September, 2015 - Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
  Concerned countries: Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Turkey, Ukraine
  Have a look at the programme / training feedback in video (5'18)/ Pictures
• 30 May - 3 June 2016 - Institut Pasteur of Tunisia, Tunis, Tunisia
  Concerned countries: Armenia, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
  Have a look at the programme / training feedback in video (4'05)/ Pictures

Identification tool (MosKeyTool)

MosKeyTool is an interactive identification key for mosquito species (larvae and females) suitable in the whole Euro-Mediterranean-Middle East areas. This tool freely downloadable can be used by expert as well as non expert entomologists. It provides the current knowledge for mosquito species determination of the 128 species in the area.

More infos on MosKeyTool

Training folllow-up and evaluation

Improve monitoring

Permanent and reliable monitoring is essential for the implementation of effective prevention. One of the challenges of this network is to consider a concerted integration of surveillance systems for mosquitoes.

roadmap towards the harmonization of entomological surveillance systems
in the Mediterranean area

Timeline