Ecological and socioeconomic factors associated with reported tick-borne viruses

Background: Public health resources are often allocated based on reported
disease cases. However, for under-recognized infectious diseases such as
tick-borne viruses, risk assessments should also account for ecological
and socioeconomic factors that influence disease case reporting. This
study identifies country-level predictors of tick-borne virus reporting
and evaluates whether wealthier nations are more likely to report
resource-intensive cases. Methods: We applied boosted regression trees, a
robust machine learning algorithm, to a comprehensive global database of
tick-borne viruses and 24 environmental and socioeconomic variables.
Results: Countries with lower income inequality and greater expertise in
veterinary, agricultural, or forestry sectors are more likely to report
tick-borne virus cases. Wealthier nations with stronger institutional and
professional capacity exhibit higher reporting rates, whereas countries
affected by conflict or limited health infrastructure show underreporting.
Climatic factors, particularly subarctic environments, also contribute to
reporting likelihood, complementing the effects of socioeconomic drivers.
Conclusions: Disease reporting is shaped by both ecological context and
socioeconomic capacity. Strengthening surveillance through targeted
resource allocation and better integration of veterinary and public health
expertise under the One Health framework could enhance global tick-borne
disease mitigation. These findings provide valuable evidence to support
the World Health Organization’s Global Arbovirus Initiative and emphasize
the need for equitable disease surveillance across regions.