Mobile Bio-Lab to support first response in Arbovirus outbreaks

Introduction

The WHO estimates that vector-borne diseases (VBD) account for more than 17% of all infectious diseases. Every year, more than 2.5 billion people are at risk of contracting dengue alone, and VBDs cause almost 1 million deaths.

Background

In the last decades, several species of invasive disease-carrying mosquitoes have invaded the northern hemisphere of the planet through the transport of goods, increasing international travel, and climate change. In 2018, a West Nile fever outbreak transmitted by mosquitoes occurred in the EU. For this disease, there are no vaccines or medications. There were 1503 cases reported in 11 countries, and 181 deaths.

Need for VBD Mobile Bio-Labs

VBD Mobile Bio-Labs could have assisted health authorities in containing this outbreak, reducing cases and preventing deaths. Unfortunately, such a system does not exist.

Project Overview: MOBVEC

MOBVEC will be the first VBD Mobile Bio-Lab, providing:

1. Automatic information about vector populations, obtained in real-time by smart traps, powered by machine learning and edge computing: insect species, sex, age, and viral infection.
2. GEOSS compliant vector risk maps of adult insects and eggs/larvae, built on field and Copernicus data.
3. GEOSS compliant disease transmission models in mosquito populations, fusing data from Copernicus, clinical and diagnostic data of reference labs, and vector risk maps.
4. GEOSS compliant citizen-science platform to reinforce the surveillance of mosquitoes using citizens as observation nodes.
5. VBD mobile bio-lab with the capacities of points 1, 2, 3, and 4 + VBD epidemiological maps and forecast models, to be rapidly operational in the heart of outbreaks to assist first responders.

Impact

This technology will be the first line of defense against disease vectors worldwide, help prevent and fight devastating disease outbreaks, and will save lives while saving millions of euros in healthcare and lost working hours. This has never been done before, and our consortium has the interdisciplinary research capacities to make it a reality.