Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans. The majority of all human infectious diseases worldwide are caused by zoonotic pathogens. Ticks and mosquitoes can transmit infectious diseases as vectors, thus leading to vector-borne diseases (VBDs). VBDs account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases in humans, resulting in over 700,000 deaths annually. VBDs are largely preventable through vector control. Strengthened monitoring and surveillance systems are key success factors for efficient and targeted vector control.

The OH SURVector project aims to establish a nationwide mosquito and tick monitoring system to create a One Health surveillance system for emerging pathogens. This project focuses on mosquito-borne West Nile virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Lyme disease bacteria, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Project activities include nationwide collection and sampling of vectors, species identification, pathogen screening, capacity expansion in laboratories, and establishment of national vector databases for the joint utilization of vector data. The OH SURVector project will address knowledge gaps associated with missing data on both vector and pathogen presence, as well as geographical and temporal patterns of vector abundance and pathogen spread.

Together the consortium has defined the following objectives for surveillance activities over the next three years:

1. the early warning of new tick and mosquito species that can transmit zoonotic pathogens,
2. the early detection of newly introduced pathogens by ticks and mosquitoes,
3. the early detection of changes in the geographical distribution of vectors and pathogens with a focus on Borrelia spp. and West Nile virus, and
4. the strengthening of cross-sector cooperation in the sense of an integrated One Health approach.