Speaker
Description
Climate plays an important role in the occurrence and ecology of tick and mosquito vectors, and therefore on the transmission of pathogens causing vector-borne diseases (VBDs) such as Lyme borreliosis, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika. Understanding and anticipating vector dynamics requires timely, high-resolution climate information integrated into public health surveillance systems, a gap that currently exists in Belgium. In response, VITO, the Belgian Climate Centre, and Sciensano co-developed a climate service for vector and VBD risk monitoring and management, within the framework of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The service delivers daily, high-resolution (100 m) climate maps of temperature and relative humidity for Belgium through two complementary workflows: (i) an AI-based model leveraging Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis, trained and validated with UrbClim simulations for diverse Belgian environments, and (ii) a regression-based workflow using historic and near real-time observations from the Royal Meteorological Institute’s AWS network. Together, these ensure continuous coverage, bridging the five-day latency of ERA5 data.
A modular Python package (CLIMSERVE) underpins the workflows, enabling automated data retrieval, processing, and integration into Sciensano’s operational environment. This ensures operational control by the public health institute while maintaining scientific robustness and reproducibility.
The service will be used for early warning, risk assessment, and as such supports decision-making by the regional and federal (health) authorities. This by delivering climate-driven indicators such as tick and mosquito activity thresholds. Beyond Belgium, the approach offers a transferable blueprint for co-designed, operational climate-health services that enhance preparedness and resilience under climate change.
| If your abstract is not accepted for an oral presentation, would you be interested in presenting it as a poster instead? | Yes |
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| If accepted by the Scientific Board, I agree to have my presentation/poster and abstract published on the Belgian Climate Centre websites and social media. | Yes |
