🆕 Latest UKHSA data on travel-associated infections: Imported cases of dengue and Zika virus, two mosquito-borne infections, continue to be reported as the busy summer travel season begins.
Dr Steven White
@drstevenmwhite.bsky.social
Vector-borne disease modelling in humans, animals and plants at UKCEH (https://bsky.app/profile/ukceh.bsky.social). Currently working on mosquitoes 🦟, ticks 🕷️ and Xylella fastidiosa 🦠.
New paper from our group on modelling the French 2025 chikungunya outbreak in real-time. Using early data, we applied our state-of-the-art model to predict location specific risk, helping to guide proportional mitigation strategies for timely public health decision-making. doi.org/10.1371/jour...
A real-time mechanistic framework for early inference of chikungunya transmission and outbreak sizes in mainland France, 2025
Author summary Mainland France experienced an unprecedented chikungunya outbreak in 2025, representing the largest locally transmitted (autochthonous) outbreak in mainland Europe at the national scale...
doi.org
Our new paper on the effect of historic climate change on the population dynamics of Ixodes ricinus published in @royalsociety.org. Led by Dom Brass, Steven White, Sarah Burthe, Steffi Schafer and Beth Purse, and funded by the NERC TickSolve project. @ukceh.bsky.social doi.org/10.1098/rsif...
The effect of historic climate change on the population dynamics of Ixodes ricinus
Abstract. The distribution and intensity of tick-borne disease (TBD) transmission events across Europe are increasing in response to changes in climate, la
doi.org
🧵A Covid thread - but a good news one! I’m barely writing about Covid anymore because there is barely any Covid to write about. I thought it was worth celebrating this in this thread. 1/7
🚨 We're hiring! A #postdoc position is available @lambrechtslab.bsky.social @pasteur.fr ➡️ Come join our team to investigate the #genomic variations underlying the adaptive potential and vectorial capacity of Aedes aegypti #mosquitoes 🦟 More details at this link: research.pasteur.fr/b/1Cov
Postdoctoral position in mosquito population genomics at Institut Pasteur in Paris - Research
The Insect-Virus Interactions Unit is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to investigate the genomic variations underlying a mosquito’s capacity to transmit human arboviruses. Description Our resear...
research.pasteur.fr
New paper! We detail the outbreak and control of #chikungunya in Bergerac, France, 2025. Modelling the outbreak in near real-time, we show that a delay in detecting the outbreak made control more challenging. Subsequent intense adulticide applications reduced further cases. doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Surveillance and control efficacy of the Bergerac, France, 2025 chikungunya outbreak
Author summary Europe is experiencing a seismic shift in the risk of dengue and chikungunya outbreaks, vectored by the highly invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus. In 2025, mainland France experienced t...
doi.org
Two #PestSurveyCard have been published to support the surveillance of the non-EU Cicadomorpha vectors of #Xylella fastidiosa. Here’s the card on non-EU #leafhopper & #treehopper: ➡️ link.europa.eu/xCftKB @unipd.bsky.social @csic.es @drstevenmwhite.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/efsa...
Non-EU leafhopper and treehopper vectors of X. fastidiosa
Updated 19 March 2026 (Version 1). Taxonomy: insects. Host plants: broadleaved trees, citrus, grape, nuts, olive, ornamentals, stone fruits, other. Regulation: quarantine pests.
link.europa.eu
EFSA Plants@efsa-plants.bsky.social · 4mo agoA guide has been published to support the use of two #PestSurveyCard on the non-EU Cicadomorpha vectors of #Xylella fastidiosa: ➡️ link.europa.eu/dhBkfm @ipsn-bgci.bsky.social @johninnescentre.bsky.social @emersys-irhs.bsky.social @iascsic.bsky.social #leafhopper #Treehopper #spittlebug
New paper! We detail the outbreak and control of #chikungunya in Bergerac, France, 2025. Modelling the outbreak in near real-time, we show that a delay in detecting the outbreak made control more challenging. Subsequent intense adulticide applications reduced further cases. doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Surveillance and control efficacy of the Bergerac, France, 2025 chikungunya outbreak
Author summary Europe is experiencing a seismic shift in the risk of dengue and chikungunya outbreaks, vectored by the highly invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus. In 2025, mainland France experienced t...
doi.org
🚨 A #postdoc position is available @lambrechtslab.bsky.social @pasteur.fr ➡️ Come join our team to investigate the #genomic variations underlying the adaptive potential and vectorial capacity of Aedes aegypti #mosquitoes 🦟 More details at this link: research.pasteur.fr/b/1Cov
Postdoctoral position in mosquito population genomics at Institut Pasteur in Paris - Research
The Insect-Virus Interactions Unit is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to investigate the genomic variations underlying a mosquito’s capacity to transmit human arboviruses. Description Our resear...
research.pasteur.fr
Our project was proud to support the follow up investigation of these detections following identification by our collaborators at the Animal and Plant Health Agency UK and @srucnews.bsky.social @sbohvm.gla.ac.uk www.bbc.co.uk/news/article....
First cases of Usutu virus found in blackbirds in Scotland
Analysis confirmed the Usutu virus in birds found dead in Arran.
bbc.co.uk
New UKCEH-led study warns of closing 20-year window in which decisions on climate & land use will determine fate of 200+ species of native #birds, #butterflies & #plants across Britain. But sustainable climate & land policies would save many of the species. www.ceh.ac.uk/press/we-hav... 🧪 1/
Looking forward to the UK VBD meeting at Liverpool tomorrow. I'll be presenting some of our recent work on European dengue and chikungunya modelling.
Two postdoc positions for a number of exciting epidemic modelling projects opening in my Unit at @pasteur.fr in beautiful Paris. Deadline for applications: 13th April. More details at the following link: research.pasteur.fr/job/two-post...
Two postdoctoral positions in epidemic modelling - Research
Job description We are recruiting 2 postdocs to contribute to research projects in the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases Unit, at Institut Pasteur in Paris. The postdocs will develop state...
research.pasteur.fr
Apparently, I can't access my Bluesky inbox in the UK without verifying my age. Is that right?
Molecular, serological and population data from multiple wildlife surveillance schemes demonstrates that host species other than the most-affected and sentinel blackbird species must be involved in the transmission of Usutu virus in the Netherlands 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Silent reservoir species are shaping the emergence of Usutu virus - Nature Ecology & Evolution
By collating molecular, serological and population data from multiple wildlife surveillance schemes, this paper demonstrates that host species other than the most-affected and sentinel blackbird speci...
nature.com
📣 2026 Student Summer Internships are OPEN for applications! We’re recruiting SEVEN interns across our National Capability programmes at our Bangor, Lancaster & Wallingford sites. Superb opportunity for hands-on experience in environmental science & applied research. Details ⬇️ 1/
Do remember to submit your abstract for the UK VBD Conference 2026!
Vector-Borne Diseases in the UK@ukvbd.bsky.social · 5mo agoDon't forget to submit your abstract to present at the UK VBD Conference in Liverpool on 31st March and 1st April 2026!
#JRSocInterface in @theguardian.com | Temperature-sensitive incubation, transmissibility and risk of Aedes albopictus-borne chikungunya virus in Europe: doi.org/10.1098/rsif...
Excruciating tropical disease can now be transmitted in most of Europe, study finds
‘Shocking’ data shows the climate crisis and invasive mosquitos mean chikungunya could spread in 29 countries
theguardian.com
Excruciating tropical disease can now be transmitted in most of Europe, study finds - ‘Shocking’ data shows the climate crisis and invasive mosquitos mean #chikungunya could spread in 29 countries #climatecrisis Story by me www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Excruciating tropical disease can now be transmitted in most of Europe, study finds
‘Shocking’ data shows the climate crisis and invasive mosquitos mean chikungunya could spread in 29 countries
theguardian.com
Chikungunya poses a greater health threat in Europe than previously thought because it can be spread at air temps as low as 13°C, a new study finds. Researchers produced a risk map showing the threat of virus transmission, spread by the Asian tiger mosquito. www.ceh.ac.uk/press/debili... 1/🧪
Worrying study by my UKCEH colleagues about human disease spread facilitated by climate change www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Excruciating tropical disease can now be transmitted in most of Europe, study finds
‘Shocking’ data shows the climate crisis and invasive mosquitos mean chikungunya could spread in 29 countries
theguardian.com
Two great 4y positions up for grabs with us and Ross working on his BBSRC MosquitoNI project, with collaborators in GB. Deadlines in a week (research fellow) and 2 weeks (RA). Lots of vector ecology and modelling but also looking at what viruses can we find in our 🦟!
Ross Cuthbert@rosscuthbert.bsky.social · 6mo agoTwo *4-year* research #jobs in #mosquito vector biology at @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social: (1) Research Fellow: hrwebapp.qub.ac.uk/tlive_webrec... (2) Research Assistant (part-time): hrwebapp.qub.ac.uk/tlive_webrec... We aim to unravel local vector assemblages while testing global processes
Our new paper is now out on "Temperature-sensitive incubation, transmissibility and risk of Aedes albopictus-borne chikungunya virus in Europe". Chikungunya has a lower thermal threshold for transmission than previously thought, carrying a higher risk of outbreaks across Europe. lnkd.in/g79PzgqJ
ohvbd 1.0.0 has now been released on CRAN! This package should help those looking for VBD data by interfacing with vbdhub.org for searching, and the VectorByte trait and population dynamics databases for data download (alongside much more). vbdhub.org/blog/ohvbd-c... #rstats #vectorbyte #vbd
ohvbd 1.0.0 has been released on CRAN! - Blog
Announcing ohvbd v1.0.0 on CRAN: a unified R interface for retrieval and harmonisation of vector-borne disease data.
vbdhub.org
Today, we're sharing an open letter from our Chief Executive, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, outlining changes to UKRI investment approach, and addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC. Read his letter here: www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
Open letter from Ian Chapman to research and innovation community
UKRI Chief Executive outlines changes to UKRI investment approach, addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC.
ukri.org
Three UK research councils suspend funding opportunities share.google/ev1p9HdC3xf8...
Three UK research councils suspend funding opportunities
Temporary block on grant applications by MRC, BBSRC and EPSRC heightens concerns over funding cuts
share.google
New PhD Opportunity. We are advertising for a modeller to model the impacts of mosquito-borne disease in the Americas. The project is funded by The Leverhulme Trust via University of Glasgow, and supervised by Christina Cobbold, Dom Brass and myself. Deadline 6th March 2026. t.ly/Z-tqt
Ecological Data Science - Projects
ecological-data-science.github.io
