Abstract
The VECTOCLIM project aims at assessing the impact of recent and future climate change on the risk related to major vector-borne diseases for the European temperate ecosystem. The project will focus on two vectors of interest for public and animal health: the invasive tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, vector of viruses to humans, and Culicoides biting midges, vectors of viruses to livestock. Through the use of mathematical modelling and large scale and longitudinal entomological data, we will evaluate the influence of global warming on the geographic and seasonal distribution of these vectors according to different IPCC scenarios. Medium and long-term projections of vector distribution will be produced and compared. Epidemiological modelling will be used to assess risk factors, identify levers of control, and produce dynamic risk maps of the studied areas for three arboviruses (dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses) and two orbiviruses (bluetongue and epizootic haemorrhagic disease viruses).Four reference research institutes in the fields of infectious diseases and climate sciences collaborate in the implementation of this study: the University of Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD and ICTP. Regular consultations will be organised with public and veterinary health professionals in order to guide research objectives and provide the best possible support to the current and future challenges facing stakeholders. The results will be analysed and discussed with experts from different disciplines such as entomologists, economists and sociologists, and disseminated to policy-makers and stakeholders. VECTOCLIM is a 2-years research project (2024-2025) funded by the French Occitania region through the grand challenge RIVOC (Infectious Risks and Vectors in Occitania). It is an operational research project which aims to support health stakeholders at different scales: regional (Occitanie), France, Europe, in a One Health context. Supported by various international reference institutes and networks, the project aims to be interdisciplinary and intersectoral.