# 6332
While unlikely to gladden the hearts of travel agents around the globe, the ECDC, through the European Network for Arthropod Vector Surveillance for Human Public Health (VBORNET), has released a new set of maps showing the prevalence of various tick species in Europe.
These maps, along with similar maps generated for exotic and invasive mosquitoes and for Plebotomine sandflies, gain new importance as the threat of vector-borne illnesses increase across Europe.
First the release information and links to the maps, and then I’ll return with more on the growing threat of arthropod carried diseases in Europe.
ECDC launches maps on the distribution of tick species in Europe
17 May 2012
ECDC
ECDC, through the VBORNET network, publishes regularly on its website maps on exotic mosquitoes and on phlebetomines - to provide the ECDC stakeholders and the general public with the most updated information on vector distribution. The maps are updated and improved quarterly.
For the first time maps on the distribution of tick species are presented, covering four tick species: Dermacentor reticulates, Hyalomma marginatum, Ixodes persulcatus, Ixodes ricinus. Another improvement is that from now on the maps on phlebotomines are provided at a finer level of geographical detail: at the administrative level NUTS3 instead of NUTS1 level.
The vector distribution maps are the outcome of collaborative work of the VBORNET network and are based on collecting existing data by the network members. VBORNET is a network of medical entomologists and public health experts, funded by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
ECDC, through the VBORNET network, continues to improve the data collection for the maps: the VBORNET network is therefore looking for vector-borne disease experts who are interested in data sharing and networking (experts can contact VBORNET at vbornet@ecdc.europa.eu).
See and download latest maps on vector distribution (updated 16 May 2012):
VBORNET maps – Tick species
VBORNET maps - Mosquitoes
VBORNET maps – Phlebotomines/Sandflies
In Europe ticks are known to carry and transmit a variety of diseases, including Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, Borreliosis, Tick-borne encephalitis, Tick-borne relapsing fever, Tularaemia, and Rickettsios.
And with changes in the climate, the range of ticks and the pattern of disease spread is likely to evolve over time.
The ECDC provides communication toolkits, designed for a variety of recipients, on tick-borne illnesses.
Communication toolkit on tick-borne diseases
This communication toolkit, developed by ECDC, includes template materials such as posters, leaflets, factsheets, etc. for different audiences with information on tick-borne diseases and preventive measures. The aim of the toolkit is to assist public health authorities in Member States in the development of strategies and communication materials to raise awareness on prevention and control of tick-borne diseases.
One of the ECDC toolkits available for download
And it isn’t just ticks.
The list of mosquito-borne diseases that could in the future (or already do) threaten parts of Europe includes West Nile Virus, Dengue, Malaria, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, Zika Virus, Yellow Fever, Ockelbo virus, and even Rift Valley Fever.
In 2010 the journal Eurosurveillance devoted an entire issue to The Threat Of Vector Borne Diseases, with perhaps the biggest threat outlined in Yellow fever and dengue: a threat to Europe? by P Reiter.
For more on the mosquito-borne threat to Europe you may wish to revisit last April’s ECDC: Status & Importance Of Invasive Mosquito Breeds In Europe and from last year, ECDC: Local Malaria Acquisition In Greece.
And while less commonly known, Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is the most serious of the sandfly-borne diseases in Europe. While it rarely causes symptoms in healthy individuals - it can pose a deadly threat to those with HIV or compromised immune systems.
With these new maps the ECDC not only hopes to alert the public as to how to prevent vector borne illness but to track the changes in their geographic range over time.
All of this highlights the fact that you don’t have to travel thousands of miles to some exotic tropical clime in order to be exposed to Dengue, Malaria, Borreliosis, or West Nile Virus.
While still relatively rare in Europe (and North America, as well), these diseases continue to make inroads, and over time are likely to increase as serious threats to public health.
