Early Warning System for Vector-Borne Diseases in Colombia

Vector-borne diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and Zika cause over 700,000 deaths annually, a toll worsened by climate change, biodiversity loss, and land-use change. In tropical regions, limited public health capacity means outbreaks are often detected too late.This project is developing an early warning system that combines invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) from mosquito blood meals with climate, land-use, and community vulnerability data to predict outbreak risk. In Tolima, Colombia, researchers will detect pathogens and host species from mosquitoes collected across different landscapes, integrating results into spatial models to identify high-risk areas.Co-developed with Colombia’s national surveillance system and in collaboration with the WHO, the approach will produce open-access tools, training materials, and policy guidance to support adoption in other vulnerable regions.The project unites experts from Bangor University (UK), Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), the Secretaría de Salud de Tolima, the Civil Society Nature Reserve “Charco Azul”, the Colombian Primatological Association, and other partners.