Résumé
Identification of Aedes hotspots in urban settings empowers the implementation of effective surveillance and control strategies for vector-borne diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika.To achieve this objective, the MediLabSecure network, funded by the European Commission, organized a training in Tirana (Albania) in September 2023 with the support of Avia-GIS, the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) and the Institute of Public Health in Albania, as the local focal point.The training was structured into two parts: the initial session held in Tirana, followed by remote follow-up sessions to reinforce skills and generate maps. Twelve trainees from eight countries participated, selected through entomological focal points within beneficiary institutes of MediLabSecure Network, spanning Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Palestine, and Turkey.Field activities were carried out in an urban park and three areas in Tirana, each with a different degree of urbanization. They encompassed mosquito collection using a range of tools, including human landing catches, ovitraps, and identification of larval breeding sites. These activities were supplemented by spatial mapping using VECMAP mobile app with additional environmental data such as site characteristics, temperature, and wind conditions.The mosquito species collected in the field were subsequently identified in the laboratory. The eggs retrieved from the traps were quantified, and the collected larvae were raised using equipment provided by the Institute of Public Health, under the guidance of expert entomologists.The following online training focused on mastering the basics of QGIS for generating maps depicting the distribution areas of Aedes albopictus within the different districts of Tirana with the relevant metadata. The skills and expertise acquired can constitute a solid foundation for strengthening Aedes control efforts in the various countries of the MediLabSecure network, while reinforcing the implementation of the «One Health» approach.