(DUCAMID) Dutch Caribbean preparedness for mosquito-borne infectious diseases

Project summary

With their dependence on tourism, the climatic conditions favouring mosquito establishment, and their central position in wildlife migratory routes, the Dutch Caribbean are potential hot spots for outbreaks of virus diseases spread by arthropod vectors (arboviruses), like Zika virus, yellow fever, and others. DUCAMID will investigate the potential for incursion and spread of medically important arboviruses by studying resident mosquitos and hosts, their virome, and signatures for immune response in mosquitos and hosts as possible barriers to incursion and / or spread. The research also aims to develop tools for implementation in future risk-based surveillance targeting mosquitos and reservoir hosts that can be operated in local research institutes with a public health mandate.