International Network for Capacity Building for the Control of Emerging Viral Vector Borne Zoonotic Diseases.
West Nile (WN) fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and Rift Valley fever (RVF) are arthropod borne diseases of domestic and wild animals that can affect humans, posing a great threat to public health because of their epidemic and zoonotic potential. Their geographical distribution has greatly expanded in recent decades. WN outbreaks have occurred in Europe, CCHF is endemic in many countries including Europe and RVF which was endemic/epizootic in the African continent, spread for the first time in Yemen and Saudi Arabia in 2000 causing two simultaneous outbreaks.
The virgin soil-epidemic raises the threat of expansion into other parts of Asia and Europe. The general public concern regarding emerging zoonotic disease has gained interest and relevance in the light of global warming. This is especially true regarding the spread of the arboviruses such as RVFV, CCHFV and WNV which are transmitted by mosquitoes or ticks. It is therefore imperative to work out integrated control measures which include vector control, vaccination programmes, which improve therapeutic strategies, diagnostic tools and surveillance, public awareness, capacity building and the infrastructures in endemic regions.
The project aims at creating common knowledge on these diseases, sharing and exchanging data, expertise, experiences and scientific information. The surveillance systems will be maintained and expanded, monitoring disease occurrence and vaccine use. The disease detection and control tools will be introduced, distributed and harmonized. We will also disseminate knowledge and train staff of relevant third countries. We think it is also important to interlink different scientific disciplines which approach the problems from different angles.
The coordinated research programme including key laboratories in Europe and neighbouring countries will address questions of joint interest enabling the development of effective control measures aimed at improving the EU’s response to outbreaks of diseases.
