The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded almost 9 million euros for this research. This amount has been supplemented to 10 million euros in contributions from seven collaborating public organisations. The multidisciplinary character of the collaboration, in which citizen science will play a role, is unique.

Outbreaks of (new) infectious diseases in humans and animals are becoming more prevalent worldwide. That is due to various factors, such as population growth, international trade, international travel and climate change. In the Netherlands, a relatively large number of people, livestock and animals live near each other. In combination with our water-rich landscape and busy international trade and travel, it makes us vulnerable to outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Professor Marion Koopmans, virologist at Erasmus MC and one of the Scientific Directors of the Netherlands Centre for One Health: 'Large disease outbreaks are thankfully quite rare. However, if such an outbreak occurs, we only investigate it from that moment onwards, which means we are always chasing after the facts. However, given our changing world, we need to be ready for more frequent infectious disease outbreaks, also in Europe. As the health of people, animals and the environment is interrelated, the most effective approach is to consolidate our strengths by collaborating with partners from different disciplines. By working together, we will be better prepared for the future.'

Figure: various global changes affect the human, animal, and environment ecosystem making new outbreaks of existing and new virus diseases possible. © Marion Koopmans / Frank Deege

Vector-borne diseases
The team will mainly focus on vector-borne diseases: infectious diseases transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes. As a result of climate change, exotic mosquito species are becoming more common in the Netherlands. But under the right conditions, mosquito species native to the Netherlands can transmit (tropical) viruses too. The recent outbreak of the usutu virus (the "blackbird disease") among birds demonstrates the importance of early preparedness for such diseases. That applies not only to the Netherlands but also the Dutch Caribbean and the rest of Europe.

Outbreaks can arise due to a combination of factors. Over the next five years, 25 PhD researchers will focus on four themes that influence the development of outbreaks:
1. changes in the climate,
2. changes in water management,
3. changes in agricultural methods, and
4. changes concerning international travel and import risks.

They will investigate the impact of changes in the climate, water management, agricultural methods and import risks on the probability of a vector-borne virus outbreak in the Netherlands. Through collaboration with researchers from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), and the blood banks in the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean, the outcomes will be translated into measures to ensure we are better prepared for a possible disease outbreak. 'Ultimately we want to develop a sort of "weather forecast" for the risk of outbreaks', says Marion Koopmans.
 
Citizen science
During the research, the team will collaborate with various scientific bodies and make use of research results from other projects. These will include citizen science projects: initiatives in which citizens and high school pupils are involved. For example, they will provide research data about birds, mosquitoes and water or use travel apps such as the Municipal Health Services' "GGD reist mee" and the "ZIeKA-monitor".
 
Partners
Coordination: Erasmus MC
Collaborative partners: Avans University of Applied Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University/Naturalis, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Radboud University Medical Centre, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Wageningen University & Research
Co-funding partners: Deltares, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), Red Cross Blood Bank Foundation Curacao, Sanquin, Technasium Foundation, Centre for Monitoring of Vectors (CMV)
International collaborating partner CEAB-CSIC: Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB) a research institute within the Superior Council of Scientific Investigations (CSIC)

More information: ncoh.nl/research

 
Netherlands Centre for One Health
NCOH is a collaboration of 9 Dutch academic research institutes focussing on One Health research. It aims to realise an integrated approach to the global risks of infectious diseases and to create sustainable solutions for major societal challenges in the areas of human, animal, and ecosystems health.

NCOH - Solutions to Global One Health Challenges
NCOH brings together leading academic institutions and research institutes in the Netherlands in an open, innovative network that responds to the theme One Health. The aim is to realise an integrated approach to the global risks of infectious diseases and to find sustainable solutions for major societal challenges in the areas of animal and human health, healthy wild fauna and ecosystems. NCOH's research and further development of knowledge focus on antibiotic resistance, emerging infectious diseases, smart livestock farming and healthy ecosystems. NCOH creates collaboration between academic institutions, research institutes, government bodies, NGOs, public health institutes and industrial partners. The NCOH partners are Utrecht University, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Wageningen University & Research, Erasmus MC, AMC Amsterdam, Leiden University, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Leiden University Medical Center and Radboud University Medical Centre.

Erasmus MC
Erasmus MC is the largest university medical centre in the Netherlands. Almost 13,000 employees work within the core tasks of patient care, education and research on continuously improving and strengthening individual patient care and public health. They develop high-value knowledge, disseminate this to future professionals and apply this to patient care.

More information:
Communication NCOH Annet Blanken: +31 320 23 8678 ncoh.nl
Communication Erasmus MC/interviews with Marion Koopmans - Maaike van Zuilen: +31 6 4563 2117

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