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New national research into mosquitoes

A new national study on the spread of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne viruses has been launched. As of today, people who suffer from mosquitoes can participate in the study by reporting the level of mosquito nuisance on a weekly basis via the online platform muggenradar.nl.

Mosquito radar

The hypothesis is when mosquito numbers and the activity of mosquitoes in the Netherlands increase, so does the number of reports of serious nuisance. In order to investigate this, the researchers want to compare mosquito catches in the field with nuisance reports submitted via muggenradar.nl. Anyone who wishes to do so can report on muggenradar.nl on a weekly basis for the next three months whether and how much nuisance they are experiencing. If you experience no mosquito nuisance, that is also interesting for the researchers.

For the research it is also interesting to know if you have experienced no mosquito nuisance.

Field studies on interaction with birds

In order to be better prepared for possible future outbreaks, it is important to understand how our environment, climate and ourselves can influence mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit. This summer, therefore, research will be conducted into their interaction with birds in sixteen different habitats for mosquitoes (ranging from a highly urbanised area in Rotterdam to a wooded area near Wageningen) over a period of twelve weeks. Birds are an important source of blood for mosquitoes. For this reason, birds can play a role in the transmission of viruses to mosquitoes and vice versa.

One Health PACT consortium

The field studies have been set up by Wageningen University & Research, Leiden University and the Bird Tracking Station (collaboration between NIOO-KNAW and the Ringersvereniging) and take place alongside a long-standing bird monitoring programme. The research takes place within the framework of the One Health PACT consortium.