Challenges and Strategies for the Development and Implementation of Climate-Informed Early Warning Systems for...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Vector-borne diseases pose a growing global health risk, amplified by climate change.
• Effective surveillance and climate-informed early warning systems are crucial for timely interventions.
• This review synthesizes challenges and strategies for developing and implementing vector-borne disease early warning systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the challenges and strategies in developing and operationalizing early warning systems for vector-borne diseases.
• To identify key factors influencing the effectiveness and sustainability of these systems.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines across major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase).
• Manual search using predefined keywords.
• Analysis of eleven selected papers.

Main Results:

• Inadequate data quality and integration (fragmented datasets) hinder predictive accuracy.
• Gaps in stakeholder engagement and capacity building limit practical application and sustainability.
• Solutions include data harmonisation, scalable cloud platforms, interdisciplinary collaboration, tailored training, and optimized communication strategies.

Conclusions:

• Integrated solutions addressing data, collaboration, and capacity building are essential.
• Enhanced early warning systems will improve preparedness and response to vector-borne diseases.
• Adapting these systems is vital for managing health threats in a changing climate.