Outputs from Vector-borne diseases and climate change (VECLIMIT)- project

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose a significant global public health threat, influenced by intricate interactions between hosts, vectors, pathogens, and the environment. In northern Europe the climate is warming at over twice the rate of the global average, affecting ecosystems and their biota, and consequently drivers of VBD circulation and epidemiology. By integrating long-term disease incidence data, metagenomic analyses, empirical field studies, high-resolution climate data, and predictive spatiotemporal modelling, we approached to set baselines and to understand the main climate-dependencies of the drivers of the complex dynamics governing transmission and distribution of main VBDs in Finland. In addition, by mapping the knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Finnish residents related to VBDs in a changing climate to further understand the possible gaps and misunderstandings associated with VBDs that may hinder the uptake of protective measures.