Pilot Implementation of Integrated West Nile Virus Surveillance in Ticino

• Forschungsstelle: BLV
• Projektnummer: 1.26.01

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

Background
Vector-borne pathogens such as West Nile virus (WNV) are increasingly reported in humans and animals in Europe, driven by favourable climatic conditions for mosquito vectors and longer transmission seasons. The virus is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes of the Culex pipiens complex, while other species such as Aedes albopictus may act as secondary vectors. WNV cases have been detected in all countries neighbouring Switzerland, including regions close to the Swiss-Italian border. In 2025, the first autochthonous human WNV case was reported in Ticino.

Purpose of the project
Currently, monitoring of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) takes place across the public health, veterinary and environmental sectors, involving various institutes and authorities. However, Switzerland lacks an integrated surveillance system covering vectors, animals and humans based on a One Health approach. This project aims to develop and test a pilot of integrated surveillance for WNV in Ticino, involving stakeholders from the public health, veterinary and environmental sectors.

Research question and hypothesis
How can an integrated WNV surveillance system combining data from mosquitoes, birds, equines and humans be implemented in Switzerland?
Hypothesis: Integrated surveillance improves early detection of virus circulation and strengthens preparedness and response, thereby protecting both public health and animal health.

Need for data collection
The project will generate evidence on how integrated surveillance can be organized and implemented in Ticino, including stakeholder collaboration, communication pathways and data exchange mechanisms. Data generated from this pilot in Ticino will inform subsequent national implementation.

Projektziele (Englisch)

Strategic objective
The project contributes to overarching national One Health surveillance strategies and strengthens preparedness and response capacities for  zoonotic VBDs of relevance in Switzerland, including diseases such as tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), Lyme borreliosis and zoonoses relevant to both FSVO and FOPH, such as zoonotic Influenza.

Relevance for FSVO and FOPH
Results will support early detection of WNV circulation, improve coordination between animal and human health surveillance and provide a practical framework for national implementation of integrated One Health surveillance.

Data sources
Data sources, including mosquito monitoring, investigations of dead wild birds, equine population data from the national animal movement database (TVD) managed by Identitas AG, equine health data from the Equinella syndromic surveillance system, human and veterinary diagnostic data, population density, meteorological data and surveillance data from neighbouring regions in Italy, will be combined to support integrated spatial risk mapping. Where available, additional indicators, such as syndromic signals, will also be explored.

Urgency
The first autochthonous Swiss WNV case and increasing circulation in neighbouring regions highlight the need to develop integrated surveillance and preparedness mechanisms.

Zielerreichung (Englisch)

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URL-Adressen (Englisch)

GEVER Link