A new study, part of the E4Warning and IDAlert projects, has provided a comprehensive snapshot of mosquito biodiversity across the Attica region in Greece—home to half the country’s population. Conducted by the Benaki Phytopathological Institute (BPI) and the University of West Attica in Athens, the survey spans two years (2021–2022) and highlights the presence, spread, and diversity of medically important mosquito species, including invasive ones like Aedes albopictus.

Key Findings:

• The three most widespread species were Aedes albopictus, Culex pipiens s.l., and Culiseta longiareolata, found in 100% of traps.

• A total of 23 mosquito species were detected, with some reappearing after years of absence.

• East Attica had the highest species diversity; South Athens and the islands the lowest.

• Molecular tools complemented traditional identification, confirming difficult or damaged specimens.

The study highlights the dynamic nature of mosquito populations in urbanized regions like Attica, where invasive species such as Aedes albopictus now coexist with native vectors like Culex pipiens s.l. The detection of medically important species, including Culex perexiguus and Aedes caspius, not commonly reported in past surveys, underscores changing vector dynamics and potential public health risks.

Molecular tools proved essential for identifying species when morphological traits were insufficient, reinforcing the value of combining traditional and modern surveillance methods. Continuous, localized monitoring is key for early detection of new threats—especially in the face of climate change and urban expansion—and provides critical data to support proactive, targeted mosquito control strategies.

Trap Positivity Rate (%) by Mosquito Species (2021–2022)

Read the full-open access here: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040406

Bisia, M., Balatsos, G., Sakellariou Sofianou, M., Beleri, S., Tegos, N., Zavitsanou, E., Karras, V., Kollia, D., Michaelakis, A., & Patsoula, E. (2025). Two-Year Entomological Survey of Mosquito Fauna in the Attica Region, Greece: Species Composition. Insects, 16 (4), 406. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040406

A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe calls for urgent, proactive action to address Europe’s growing threat of vector-borne diseases (VBDs)—highlighting lessons learned from endemic regions worldwide. The research, led by the Global Health Resilience group at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), brings together experts from 13 countries across four continents. Several E4Warning partners contributed to the study, reinforcing the project’s commitment to cross-sectoral and international collaboration.

The paper addresses the growing risks posed by climate change, urbanisation, and invasive species such as Aedes albopictus, which are extending transmission seasons and raising the likelihood of disease outbreaks including West Nile virus, dengue, leishmaniasis, and tick-borne encephalitis. In response to these escalating threats, the study emphasizes that Europe must move from reactive responses to proactive, forward-looking strategies. This shift must be grounded in cross-border collaboration, long-term planning, and the integration of local knowledge into health policies. Community-level awareness and engagement are key to ensuring that control measures are both effective and socially accepted.

Citizen science, especially in digitally connected regions, can enhance surveillance and public participation, though it requires overcoming barriers to innovation and data sharing. The study also promotes community-based interventions (CBIs), drawing on successful examples like Brazil’s “Boot Out” campaign, which combined public awareness with practical waste removal efforts. Adapting interventions across Europe requires attention to cultural, legal, and ecological differences, and the authors stress the need to expand asymptomatic and serological surveillance to improve preparedness and early response capacity.

To meet these goals, the authors propose a multi-sectoral “Intervention Toolkit” tailored to European realities, drawing on experiences from countries with long-standing expertise in managing VBDs.

The toolkit includes five key pillars:

1. Clinical case and risk management

2. Integrated vector surveillance and control

3. Adapting the built and natural environment to reduce vector habitats

4. Data harmonisation and development of decision support tools

5. Community engagement, including citizen science platforms

“We propose here five key areas where Europe could and is integrating knowledge from endemic settings on vector and disease control, and advocate for the importance of cross-country knowledge sharing partnerships and integration at the public and policy level,” said Gina Charnley, BSC researcher and first author of the study.

By combining inclusive governance and transdisciplinary knowledge-sharing, the study outlines a clear pathway toward more resilient and equitable public health systems in Europe and beyond. Yet, limited resources and shifting priorities across sectors often hinder implementation, however, moving forward, long-term cross-border collaboration, data harmonisation, and meaningful integration of local and indigenous knowledge will be critical to turning these strategies into lasting, impactful solutions.

Read the full-open access here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101271.

Charnley, G. E. C., Alcayna, T., Almuedo-Riera, A., Antoniou, C., Badolo, A., Bartumeus, F., Boodram, L.-L., Bueno-Marí, R., Codeço, C., Coelho, F. C., Costa, F., Cox, H., Haddad, N., Ab Hamid, N., Kittayapong, P., Korukluoğlu, G., Michaelakis, A., Maciel-de-Freitas, R., Montalvo, T., Muñoz, J., Sauleda Oliveras, S., Palmer, J. R. B., Barboza Pizard, C. J., Ribeiro, G. S., & Lowe, R. (2025). Strengthening resilience to emerging vector-borne diseases in Europe: Lessons learnt from countries facing endemic transmission. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, 53, 101271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101271.

Our partner and WP leader, Rachel Lowe, ICREA Research Professor and Global Health Resilience (GHR) Group Leader at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), was recently interviewed by HERA (Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority) and featured on their website: https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/hera/items/852413/en

HERA is an EU body established to strengthen Europe’s ability to anticipate and respond to health emergencies, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to ensure the provision of critical medical countermeasures and enhance Europe’s readiness for future health threats.

In the interview, Rachel Lowe discusses the intricate connections between climate change and the outbreaks of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, exploring why these outbreaks are increasing and spreading to new regions, particularly in Europe. She also explains how shifting climate patterns could influence emergency preparedness and response strategies, highlighting the need for proactive, integrated approaches. She shared insights into specific climate-sensitive diseases that pose a potential threat to the EU, including dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile virus, and discussed ongoing efforts like the development of the EpiOutlook platform within the IDAlert project, which is part of the European Climate-Health Cluster. This platform aims to provide early warnings of climatic suitability for various infectious diseases in Europe. They also track the impact of climate change on these diseases in the Lancet Countdown in Europe collaboration.

As part of E4Warning, Professor Lowe also elaborated on her work in developing decision support tools like the D-MOSS (Dengue forecasting Model Satellite-based System) for dengue in endemic regions in collaboration with HR-Wallingford, as well the efforts on integrating different data sources such as citizen science initiatives like Mosquito Alert, which could enhance the monitoring and management of disease vectors across Europe, providing critical support for future public health interventions.

For more details, read the full interview on the HERA website and gain valuable insights into how E4Warning and its partners are addressing the growing challenges posed by climate-sensitive diseases in Europe.

Some members of the E4Warning team attended the 23rd ESOVE Conference (European Society for Vector Ecology), held from October 14-17, 2024, in Montpellier, France. This edition was organized by the Vectopole Sud network, which includes research partners from the Occitanie region: Cirad, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, University of Montpellier, Toulouse Veterinary School, and EID Méditerranée, the main public vector control operator in France.

Catuxa Cerecedo (CEAB-CSIC) presented her talk titled “Integrating citizen and authoritative surveillance data in mosquito distribution models,” a study framed within the E4Warning project on the Session Surveillance systems, community-based surveillance and management of VBDs. Her research explores how to integrate mosquito observations collected by citizens using the Mosquito Alert tool with mosquito counts from traditional traps and assesses whether this integration improves habitat suitability models for mosquito species or provides additional insights into mosquito abundances. Exploring the integration of various data sources to model vector dynamics and abundance is one of the project’s key objectives.

The conference also featured presentations from other groups outside the consortium using data collected through Mosquito Alert, as well as studies testing the effectiveness of Vectrack smart traps developed by the partner IRIDEON.

In a recent study conducted in Brazil by researchers from the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, the E4Warning project successfully deployed smart traps with the VECTRACK sensor developed by IRIDEON, to improve mosquito surveillance in urban settings. These smart traps, equipped with AI and IoT technologies, have been tested in two Brazilian cities—Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia—where they demonstrated high accuracy in identifying mosquito species such as Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus, both key vectors for diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.

Over a year of field testing, the traps showed a remarkable 99.8% accuracy in distinguishing target mosquito species from other insects and a 93.7% accuracy in differentiating between the two genera of mosquitoes. The smart traps collected data on 9,151 insect flights, of which 1,383 were mosquito vectors.

These findings indicate the potential of the E4Warning tool to provide real-time monitoring and classification of mosquitoes in areas with high vector-borne disease risks: by the end of September 2024, over 9.5 million dengue cases had been reported in Brazil. In this context, the data gathered from the smart traps could be instrumental in aiding public health authorities to make timely interventions, such as targeted vector control measures, enhancing the preparedness and response to mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.  The successful implementation of the IRIDEON smart traps in Brazil showcases how cutting-edge technologies can revolutionize mosquito surveillance, making it faster, more accurate, and less reliant on manual labor.

The paper has been published in the Parasite & Vector journal: Njaime, F.C.B.F.P., Máspero, R.C., Leandro, A.d., Maciel-de-Freitas, R. Automated classification of mixed populations of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes under field conditions. Parasites Vectors 17, 399 (2024).

It can be consulted at the following link: https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-024-06417-z

It can also be founded in the E4Warning Zenodo community: https://zenodo.org/records/13868673

During the summer of 2024, project partners in Spain and Germany have been actively tagging birds with bio-loggers at key study sites to monitor their local and regional movements. Understanding bird movements and space usage during mosquito season is essential, as birds are the primary reservoirs for West Nile Virus (WNV). This project focuses on quantifying the mobility of key reservoir species, filling a crucial gap in current research by examining the local movement and dispersal patterns of resident bird species. Unlike the more extensively studied migratory birds, resident birds’ space usage near human settlements has been less explored. By gathering empirical data on these local movements, we aim to enhance our understanding of how resident bird populations contribute to virus transmission in areas close to human activity.

Fieldwork involves capturing and tagging various bird species with bio-loggers provided by the Max Planck Institute (MPI). For smaller bird species, such as blackbirds (Turdus merula) and starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), we are using bio-logging devices developed by MPI that operate with SigFox technology. Although the SigFox IoT network offers lower spatial accuracy compared to satellite navigation, it supports the creation of particularly small devices thanks to the network’s low power demands requiring fewer electronic components. This allows tracking of smaller species with minimal impact on their natural behaviour.  This innovative technology also allows for near real-time tracking and data transmission to the MovBank platform, making it ideal for monitoring the movements of these smaller species across different environments.

The data collected from these birds will be compared with similar data from other study sites within the project during the next years, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of the potential WNV transmission dynamics across various landscapes. In addition to blackbirds and starlings, other species being tagged include mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), pigeons (Columba livia), and either western marsh harriers (Circus aeruginosus) or northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis). The capture and tagging process began in June 2024 and will continue until September 2024, providing valuable insights into how these birds move through different landscapes and potentially contribute to the spread of WNV.

• Read more about the SigFox technology for animal tracking here: A multi-species evaluation of digital wildlife monitoring using the Sigfox IoT network.

In our ongoing efforts to enhance mosquito surveillance and early warning systems, the E4Warning consortium is leveraging innovative technologies, including the improvement of the IRIDEON SL smart-traps. These smart-traps are designed to automate and improve the efficiency of mosquito monitoring, addressing the challenges faced by traditional methods.

Overcoming Traditional Surveillance Challenges

Traditional mosquito surveillance methods are costly and time-consuming, requiring significant professional resources for trap placement, sample collection, and laboratory analysis. Additionally, there is an inevitable time lag between placing traps and collecting samples, which can lead to inaccurate and untimely monitoring of mosquito populations.

The IRIDEON smart traps are off-the-shelf commercial suction traps equipped with the VECTRACK optoelectronic sensor prototype developed by IRIDEON SL in Barcelona. These sensors are capable of distinguishing between mosquito species, sex, and age under both laboratory and field conditions. The VECTRACK sensor includes an emitter, an array of LEDs, and photo-transistors acting as photoreceptors, all working together to create a light field. When a mosquito is drawn into the trap, its wing flapping modulates the light field, generating a species-specific signature. This signature is processed using AI methods, including rule-based systems, genetic algorithms, artificial neural networks, and fuzzy models, to classify the mosquito by genus, species, sex, and age.

Each VECTRACK recording includes GPS coordinates, date and time of capture, ambient temperature, and relative humidity. Every 30 minutes, the field sensor transmits data batches to the server via the mobile phone network. The server then classifies each mosquito event, providing detailed and accurate data on mosquito populations in real-time. This automation reduces the need for manual intervention and enables continuous monitoring.

Field Performance and Global Testing

The VECTRACK sensor has demonstrated its effectiveness in real-world scenarios, achieving high accuracy in field trials conducted in Spain. In El Prat de Llobregat (2021) and Rubí (2022), the sensor achieved 95.5% accuracy in species detection and 88.8% accuracy in classifying the genus and sex of mosquitoes. Check the work performed by Gozález-Pérez et al.: Field evaluation of an automated mosquito surveillance system which classifies Aedes and Culex mosquitoes by genus and sex. Parasites Vectors 17, 97 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06177-w

Ongoing Field Tests Under E4Warning

The E4Warning project is testing the efficacy of the IRIDEON smart-traps under various conditions:

• Spain (Barcelona): VECTRACK sensors are deployed at five strategic monitoring sites across the city, focusing on Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus. Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona – ASPB
• Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia): Field trials with local populations of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus in collaboration with Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz)
• Spain (Girona): Testing in non-urban environments like the Botanical Garden of Blanes and Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park, where diverse mosquito species are present. CSIC
• Greece (Athens): Planned deployment in the Attica region, focusing on critical points of entry for Aedes aegypti and areas of significant vector importance. Benaki Phytopathological Institute

To learn more about IRIDEON smart-traps refer to:

• González-Pérez, M.I., Faulhaber, B., Aranda, C. et al. Field evaluation of an automated mosquito surveillance system which classifies Aedes and Culex mosquitoes by genus and sex. Parasites Vectors 17, 97 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06177-w
• González-Pérez MI, Faulhaber B, Williams M, Brosa J, Aranda C, Pujol N, et al. A novel optical sensor system for the automatic classification of mosquitoes by genus and sex with high levels of accuracy. Parasit Vectors. 2022;15:190. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05324-5.

During the E4Warning project, we are employing various methods to collect blood-engorged female mosquitoes to study their feeding patterns. The techniques include carbon-dioxide-baited BG-traps, mechanical aspiration with a powered vacuum aspirator, and artificial resting sites. Sampling began in April 2024 and will continue monthly until November 2024 for this year.

From June 10-15, we hosted Dr. Nathan Burkett-Cadena and Tanise Steen from the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, at our study area in Aiguamolls de l’Empordà (Girona, Spain). Their visit aimed to test these collection techniques and share their expertise. They brought vacuum aspirators and resting traps developed by their lab to evaluate their combined efficacy in capturing blood-fed female mosquitoes across different habitats.

The Florida researchers developed human-powered resting traps designed for cavity-resting mosquitoes like Culex. These traps, set among vegetation in dark areas, attract mosquitoes seeking refuge during the day. Traps are placed horizontally to attract Culex and vertically to attract Anopheles mosquitoes and are collected the following day.

To maximize mosquito collection, we combined resting shelter traps and BG-traps with a large-diameter aspirator. These aspirators, designed by Dr. Burkett-Cadena’s team, use an automotive radiator fan to create directional airflow, capturing mosquitoes in a mesh-bottom plastic collection cup.

The insights gained during this visit and throughout the 2024 mosquito season will help finalize protocols for capturing blood-fed females, aiding in our study of mosquito feeding patterns.

• Burkett-Cadena. 2011. A wire-frame shelter for collecting resting mosquitoes. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 27: 153–155
• Burkett-Cadena et al. 2019. Human-powered pop-up resting shelter for sampling cavity-resting mosquitoes. Acta Tropica 190: 288-292
• Sloyer et al. 2022. Evaluating sampling strategies for enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus vectors in Florida and Panama. PLoS Negl Trop Dis.16:e0010329
•  Jaworski et al. 2022. Artificial resting sites: An alternative sampling method for adult mosquitoes. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 36: 139–148

Eva Veronesi (SUPSI) attended the 6th International Workshop on Aedes albopictus in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from March 28-29, 2024. Organized by the Institute Pasteur of Cambodia, the workshop was led by Dr. Sébastien Boyer (head of the Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit at the Institute). The opening session was presided over by Prof. André Spiegel, Director of the Institute Pasteur of Cambodia, with the presence of Professor Chheang Ra, Minister of Health of Cambodia, Mr. Jacques Pellet, Ambassador of France to Cambodia, and Dr. Boyer, who delivered the introductory talk.

The Aedes albopictus, commonly known as the tiger mosquito, is a principal carrier of Dengue fever, Chikungunya, Zika, and at least 20 other significant pathogens impacting public health. Originating from the tropical and subtropical zones of Southeast Asia, the tiger mosquito has expanded its reach globally over the last century, facilitated by international trade and travel. Distinguished by distinctive white stripes on its legs and body, the species has adapted well to human environments. As a considerable nuisance, the tiger mosquito typically resides close to human habitats and is known for its daytime biting behavior, especially during early morning and late afternoon periods.

The event was focused on enhancing scientific collaboration and showing innovative vector control strategies. Key research topics covered included vector models of invasion and dispersal, and the role of the species as a bridge vector, including the influence of climate change on vector behavior. For that, the workshop unfolded five sessions:

• Aedes albopictus in Asia.
• Biology and Ecology of Aedes albopictus.
• Vector control: challenges and innovations.
• Vector control: insecticide resistance.
• New surveillance strategies.

It was during the session on innovative surveillance strategies that E4Warning was spotlighted. The presentation titled “The Role of E4Warning in Combating the Spread of Dengue in Asia and its Potential Incursion into Europe” by Eva Veronesi showcased to the audience the surveillance tools involved in the project, such as Mosquito Alert (CSIC, UPF), VECMAP (AVIA-GIS)  and the smart traps designed by IRIDEON. Additionally, it highlighted the dengue models developed by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and HR Wallingford.

Link to the agenda of the event: Agenda 6th International Workshop on Aedes albopictus

E4Warning participated in the high-level conference “Research Perspectives on the Health Impacts of Climate Change,” organized by the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) of the European Commission. This event, held in Brussels on February 19th and 20th, 2024, aimed to highlight the crucial nexus between climate change and global health issues.

Chloe Fletcher, a PhD candidate from the Global Health Resilience group at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), attended the conference. Her research focuses on developing statistical models for predicting outbreaks of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, such as dengue and leptospirosis. Fletcher presented a poster titled “A Generalized Modelling Framework for Dengue Early Warning Systems in South and Southeast Asia,” a collaborative effort involving Ramy Hoek Spaans (BSC), Sophie Belman (BSC), Chloe Fletcher (BSC), Quillon Harpham (HRW), Gina Tsarouchi (HRW), and Rachel Lowe (BSC), all contributing to the E4Warning project.

This study aims to broaden the successful application of the Dengue Forecasting Model Satellite-based System (D-MOSS), originally implemented in Vietnam, to include Sri Lanka and Malaysia. By employing a Bayesian modeling approach and contrasting it with the conventional practices of dengue outbreak monitoring in each nation, the research seeks to identify which dengue predictors remain consistent or vary across these diverse regions.

The goal is to establish a universally applicable template for developing dengue early warning systems. The D-MOSS platform, which underpins this forecasting system, is managed by HR Wallingford. A key ambition of E4Warning is to collaborate intimately with local partners to deliver actionable data visualizations, thereby enabling an informed, data-driven approach to dengue management.

You can view the summaries of other posters presented during the conference at this link.