MOOD publications

@article{Mäkelä2025,

title = {Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards vector-borne diseases in changing climate in Finland},

author = {Henna Mäkelä, Timothée Dub, J. Pekka Nuorti, Jussi Sane},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s0950268824001468},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-15},

urldate = {2025-01-15},

journal = {Epidemiology and Infection},

abstract = {With climate change, the geographic distribution of some VBDs has expanded, highlighting the need for adaptation, and managing the risks associated with emergence in new areas. We conducted a questionnaire survey on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about vector-borne diseases (VBDs) among sample of Finnish residents. The questions were scored and the level of KAP was determined based on scoring as poor, fair, good, or excellent. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of different KAP levels with sex, age, education, and possible previous VPD infection. },

keywords = {CHIK (Chikungunya), DEN (Dengue), Zika},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Re2024b,

title = {VectAbundance: a spatio-temporal database of vector observations},

author = {Daniele Da Re, Giovanni Marini, Carmelo Bonannella, Fabrizio Laurini, Mattia Manica, Nikoleta Anicic, Alessandro Albieri, Paola Angelini, Daniele Arnoldi, Marharyta Blaha, Federica Bertola, Beniamino Caputo, Claudio De Liberato, Alessandra Della Torre, Enkelejda Velo, Eleonora Flacio, Alessandra Franceschini, Francesco Gradoni, Përparim Kadriaj, Valeria Lencioni, Irene Del Lesto, Francesco La Russa, Riccardo Paolo Lia, Fabrizio Montarsi, Domenico Otranto, Gregory L’Ambert, Annapaola Rizzoli, Pasquale Rombolà, Federico Romiti, Gionata Stancher, Alessandra Torina, Chiara Virgillito, Fabiana Zandonai, Roberto Rosà},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03482-y},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-06-15},

journal = {Scientific Data},

abstract = {Modelling approaches play a crucial role in supporting local public health agencies by estimating and forecasting vector abundance and seasonality. However, the reliability of these models is contingent on the availability of standardized, high-quality data. Addressing this need, our study focuses on collecting and harmonizing egg count observations of the mosquito Aedes albopictus, obtained through ovitraps in monitoring and surveillance efforts across Albania, France, Italy, and Switzerland from 2010 to 2022. We processed the raw observations to obtain a continuous time series of ovitraps observations allowing for an extensive geographical and temporal coverage of Ae. albopictus population dynamics. The resulting post-processed observations are stored in the open-access database VectAbundance.This initiative addresses the critical need for accessible, high-quality data, enhancing the reliability of modelling efforts and bolstering public health preparedness.



},

keywords = {CHIK (Chikungunya), DEN (Dengue), Zika},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Reporting delays of chikungunya cases during the 2017 outbreak in Lazio region, Italy},

author = {Mattia Manica and Giovanni Marini and Angelo Solimini and Giorgio Guzzetta and Piero Poletti and Paola Scognamiglio and Chiara Virgillito and Alessandra della Torre and Stefano Merler and Roberto Rosà and Francesco Vairo and Beniamino Caputo

},

url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011610},

doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0011610},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-09-14},

urldate = {2023-09-14},

abstract = {Background

Emerging arboviral diseases in Europe pose a challenge due to difficulties in detecting and diagnosing cases during the initial circulation of the pathogen. Early outbreak detection enables public health authorities to take effective actions to reduce disease transmission. Quantification of the reporting delays of cases is vital to plan and assess surveillance and control strategies. Here, we provide estimates of reporting delays during an emerging arboviral outbreak and indications on how delays may have impacted onward transmission.



Methodology/principal findings

Using descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meyer curves we analyzed case reporting delays (the period between the date of symptom onset and the date of notification to the public health authorities) during the 2017 Italian chikungunya outbreak. We further investigated the effect of outbreak detection on reporting delays by means of a Cox proportional hazard model. We estimated that the overall median reporting delay was 15.5 days, but this was reduced to 8 days after the notification of the first case. Cases with symptom onset after outbreak detection had about a 3.5 times higher reporting rate, however only 3.6% were notified within 24h from symptom onset. Remarkably, we found that 45.9% of identified cases developed symptoms before the detection of the outbreak.



Conclusions/significance

These results suggest that efforts should be undertaken to improve the early detection and identification of arboviral cases, as well as the management of vector species to mitigate the impact of long reporting delays.},

keywords = {CHIK (Chikungunya)},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{guzzetta2020spatial,

title = {Spatial modes for transmission of chikungunya virus during a large chikungunya outbreak in Italy: a modeling analysis},

author = {Giorgio Guzzetta and Francesco Vairo and Alessia Mammone and Simone Lanini and Piero Poletti and Mattia Manica and Roberto Rosa and Beniamino Caputo and Angelo Solimini and Alessandra Della Torre and others},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01674-y},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

urldate = {2020-01-01},

journal = {BMC medicine},

volume = {18},

number = {1},

pages = {1--10},

publisher = {BioMed Central},

abstract = {Background

The spatial spread of many mosquito-borne diseases occurs by focal spread at the scale of a few hundred meters and over longer distances due to human mobility. The relative contributions of different spatial scales for transmission of chikungunya virus require definition to improve outbreak vector control recommendations.



Methods

We analyzed data from a large chikungunya outbreak mediated by the mosquito Aedes albopictus in the Lazio region, Italy, consisting of 414 reported human cases between June and November 2017. Using dates of symptom onset, geographic coordinates of residence, and information from epidemiological questionnaires, we reconstructed transmission chains related to that outbreak.



Results

Focal spread (within 1 km) accounted for 54.9% of all cases, 15.8% were transmitted at a local scale (1–15 km) and the remaining 29.3% were exported from the main areas of chikungunya circulation in Lazio to longer distances such as Rome and other geographical areas. Seventy percent of focal infections (corresponding to 38% of the total 414 cases) were transmitted within a distance of 200 m (the buffer distance adopted by the national guidelines for insecticide spraying). Two main epidemic clusters were identified, with a radius expanding at a rate of 300–600 m per month. The majority of exported cases resulted in either sporadic or no further transmission in the region.



Conclusions

Evidence suggest that human mobility contributes to seeding a relevant number of secondary cases and new foci of transmission over several kilometers. Reactive vector control based on current guidelines might allow a significant number of secondary clusters in untreated areas, especially if the outbreak is not detected early. Existing policies and guidelines for control during outbreaks should recommend the prioritization of preventive measures in neighboring territories with known mobility flows to the main areas of transmission.},

keywords = {CHIK (Chikungunya), OpenDataSet},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}