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Pilot Implementation of Integrated West Nile Virus Surveillance in Ticino

  • Funded by Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO)
  • Total publications:0 publications

Grant number: 60416

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Key facts

  • Disease

    West Nile Virus Infection

  • Start & end year

    2026

  • Known Financial Commitments (USD)

    $182,265

  • Funder

    Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO)

  • Principal Investigator

    Szelecsenyi Arlette

  • Research Location

    Switzerland

  • Lead Research Institution

    N/A

  • Research Priority Alignment

    N/A

  • Research Category

    Animal and environmental research and research on diseases vectors

  • Research Subcategory

    Animal source and routes of transmission

  • Special Interest Tags

    N/A

  • Study Type

    Non-Clinical

  • Clinical Trial Details

    N/A

  • Broad Policy Alignment

    Pending

  • Age Group

    Unspecified

  • Vulnerable Population

    Unspecified

  • Occupations of Interest

    Unspecified

Abstract

BackgroundVector-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 projectCurrently, 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 ...