Needs identified related to vector surveillance and control

Vector surveillance

The need for both Cu/ex and Aedes mosquito surveillance were rated from not important to very important using a Likert scale (Figure). For all domains, more than half of the respondents ranked the needs as important (i.e. combining quite important and very important). Half or more of the respondents rated the following needs as very important: the need for more funding; need for more training of human resources; need for a long-term mosquito plan; and need for a better understanding how mosquito surveillance can inform early warning for mosquito-borne diseases outbreaks. Also, the need for more international coordination between countries was rated highly.

Figure 4. Overview rating of needs for mosquito surveillance in terms of importance.

Vector control

The need for Culex and Aedes mosquito control were rated using a Likert scale (Figure). For all domains, more than half of the respondents ranked the needs as important (i.e. combining quiet and very important). Needs rated as very important by more than half of the respondents are:

• Resources

Responsibilities

Coordination

Operational

Need for better evidence how mosquito control has a public-health benefit

Need for more funding (for staff, expendables)

Need for more training of human resources

Need for clarity about competencies (Who is responsible for what?)

Need for development of multisectoral collaboration

Need for more communication between surveillance and control

Need for more involvement of citizens in reducing mosquitoes in the peri-domestic environment

Need for guidance on the relative cost-effectiveness of mosquito control methods and integrated strategies

Need for (better) quality assurance and quality control of mosquito control deployments

Need for innovative mosquito control means, tool and strategies

Need for better information on the problem of insecticide resistance and how it affects effectiveness of biocide-based interventions

Nine out of 17 countries reported that their budgets did not meet their control needs, while four (Cyprus, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands) indicated that their budgets were sufficient to cover those needs.