As part of the VectorNet programme contracted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Francis Schaffner, an internationally renowned expert in the epidemiology and biology of disease vectors and former president of the European Mosquito Control Association (EMCA, 2021–2023), visited Northern Greece from 21 to 25 June 2025.
The purpose of the mission was to strengthen field entomological data and fill gaps in the distribution maps of mosquito species of public health importance produced by VectorNet on behalf of the ECDC.
During the two-day event, sampling of mosquito larvae and adults was carried out in the Regional Units of Drama, Kavala and Xanthi with emphasis on the search for Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Culex modestus. This fieldwork was carried out jointly by Francis Schaffner and Sandra Gewehr, Director of Research & Development at Ecodevelopment SA and former EMCA President (2023-2025).
Sharing of data derived from Ecodevelopment’s existing entomological database from five regions of the country has already been carried out, as part of a wider collaboration on insects of sanitary importance with the VectorNet network.
This collaboration contributes to the collective effort of European agencies to accurately document the geographical distribution of vector species and to support the timely identification of potential public health risks.
