Vector-borne diseases that are transmitted via blood feeding arthropods are posing an increasing health threat to humans in Europe, including Finland. Their incidence and spread are strongly influenced by changes in the environment, in particular climate. The recent emergence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in new areas, increase of reported borreliosis cases, and the threat of introduction of new vectors and pathogens warrants targeted research in Finland.
This consortium (partners from Universities of Helsinki, Jyväskylä and Turku, Luke, NIHW, FFA and FMI) aims to estimate and predict these risks in relation to climate change in Finland.