Grants
STM report: Towards integrated West Nile Virus surveillance and preparedness in Belgium, learning from the Italian experience
Objectives
- support Sciensano’s role in coordinating the Belgian West Nile virus preparedness initiatives by learning from the Italian experience in implementing an integrated One Health surveillance and response system;
- strengthen Sciensano’s expertise to support the development of appropriate and effective response protocols for different epidemiological contexts;
- gain insight into the roles of the different stakeholders involved and the coordination between the human, animal, entomological and blood safety sectors in a context of endemic circulation of the virus;
- identify lessons learned and good practices from the Italian experience that could support the development of Belgium’s national West Nile virus preparedness plan and its coordination by Sciensano;
- strengthen my knowledge and practical experience in vector-borne disease preparedness as an early-career scientist through direct exchanges with experts from different disciplines.
Summary report
During this short-term mission, I had the opportunity to learn how West Nile virus (WNV) preparedness, surveillance and response are organised within a One Health framework in Italy. Over five days, I met experts working in Rome at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), the Italian Ministry of Health, the Lazio regional health authorities, and in Teramo at the National Reference Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases. The experts are involved in disciplines including epidemiology, virology, medical entomology, veterinary public health, blood and transplant safety, and risk communication. Through presentations, discussions and laboratory visits, I gained a comprehensive overview of how the National Plan for prevention, surveillance and response to arbovirus (PNA) has been created and is implemented within the Italian context.
The mission also offered the opportunity to discuss current challenges, future developments and lessons learned from more than two decades of WNV circulation in Italy. The knowledge and contacts gained during this short-term mission will contribute to discussions and reflections regarding the development of Belgium’s first national WNV preparedness plan and contribute to strengthen Sciensano’s expertise on emerging vector-borne diseases.
I would like to thank the EOHA for supporting this mission and the colleagues from the ISS for accepting to host me. This experience allowed me to gain valuable knowledge for my scientific career related to vector-borne diseases. I would like also to thank all the experts I had the chance to meet in the different institutes for their time, warm welcome and willingness to share their valuable expertise.
