One Health vector-borne disease surveillance
UKHSA jointly with partners in England takes a 'One Health' approach to managing and coordinating the surveillance of, and response to, VBDs.
Applies to England
One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems, and that recognises their interdependencies.
The approach involves collaboration between human, environmental and animal sectors and is essential to monitoring and responding to risks of vector-borne diseases (VBDs).
- The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors the risks of vectors and vector-borne diseases to public health through surveillance, horizon scanning and risk assessments.
- The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for developing and implementing policy for zoonotic diseases (transmitted between animals and humans), and responds to animal disease outbreaks.
- The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), an executive agency of Defra, carries out surveillance and controls disease outbreaks, including vector‑borne diseases in kept animals across England, Scotland and Wales.
- Local authorities and resilience forums (organisations responsible for preparing for and responding to emergencies) support vector surveillance activities in collaboration with UKHSA.
International partners undertake global surveillance and share information to strengthen collective action and reduce the impact of VBDs worldwide.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) monitors the global epidemiology of vector‑borne diseases and vector distribution and guides global surveillance strengthening initiatives.
- The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) supports European countries to respond to VBD risks by collating and analysing European-wide data and providing scientific guidance. ECDC also coordinate European networks such as the One Health project, VectorNet and the European Emerging and Vector-borne Diseases Network EVD-net.
Later this year UKHSA will start producing One Health VBD annual surveillance reports that will provide data on the geographical presence and distribution of disease transmitting vectors and VBDs, monitoring changes over time to inform assessments of risks to public health.
Risk assessments, contingency plans and guidance
Vector-borne risk assessments, contingency plans, and guidance support both public awareness and public health action by helping to inform preparedness, decision-making, and response at local and national levels.
- Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRs) risk assessments evaluate threats posed by specific pathogens and vectors that help inform proportionate public health action.
- The national contingency plan for invasive mosquitoes sets out agreed actions to detect, monitor and control non-native mosquito species of human or animal health importance and reduce the risk of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya.
- The West Nile virus (WNV) plan outlines actions to reduce the risk and impact of WNV in both animals and humans. It supports partner organisations in understanding and delivering their responsibilities across prevention, preparedness, surveillance, and mosquito control.
Vector-borne disease research and evidence
Research – including modelling, laboratory analysis and the development of innovative surveillance methods – contributes to our understanding of vector distribution, patterns of disease transmission, and emerging risks. Evidence from vector, human and animal studies can strengthen surveillance systems, inform risk assessment, and support the development of effective prevention and control strategies for VBDs.
- The Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections brings together researchers from across academia to support and strengthen UKHSA’s role in protecting the UK from emerging and zoonotic infections.
- UKHSA scientists collaborate with academic partners to undertake and publish research that is relevant to their work, such as on invasive mosquito surveillance in the United Kingdom.
- The Centre for Climate and Health Security (CCHS) collates and translates complex data on tick and mosquito populations into evidence-based guidance for preparedness and response to emerging vector-borne diseases.
Additional resources for One Health vector-borne disease surveillance: