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The tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), vector of several emerging diseases, is expanding into more northerly latitudes as well as into higher altitudes in northern Italy. Changes in the pattern of distribution of the tiger mosquito may affect the potential spread of infectious diseases transmitted by this species in Europe.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, has a worldwide distribution in areas with a relatively warm climate, including mild winters.

​Environmental change, land-use, globalisation, and socio-economic contexts are all widely recognised to affect the transmission patterns of infectious diseases. ECDC has developed a tool - the E3 Geoportal - in order to promote and facilitate geospatial infectious disease modelling in Europe.

Adjustments to surveillance practices in the EU will enhance preparedness and public health response to emerging infectious diseases, thereby helping to contain human and economic costs. These are the conclusions of an article published this week in Science magazine, describing a study co-authored by ECDC.

ECDC co-authored the Human Health chapter in the European Environment Agency report, ‘Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012’ launched on 21 November, alongside EEA and WHO experts.