Why are there questions about ticks and mosquitoes at BEready?

The warmer climate is enabling various species to become native to Switzerland. BEready focuses on ticks and mosquitoes because they transmit diseases and we want to be prepared for them. Lilian Goepp explains what insights can be gained from the data.

Text: Lilian Goepp

Why ticks and mosquitoes?

Switzerland is one of the European countries most affected by tick-borne diseases, particularly Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis. Mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and dengue fever, are also appearing in neighbouring countries. These two categories of diseases pose serious challenges to public health, and as the climate warms, ticks and mosquitoes are expected to spread and remain active for longer periods of the year. This means that an increasing number of people could be exposed to the pathogens they carry.

How do the results of the BEready questions help us ?

Individual preventive measures are essential to limit the transmission of these diseases. Public awareness and knowledge are therefore an important factor in the planning and implementation of public health measures. By collecting data on how residents of the canton of Bern perceive these risks and protect themselves, we aim to assess the population's level of preparedness for this emerging threat.

The results of BEready will feed into the NCCS-Impacts report, which will help decision-makers identify and respond to climate change-related health risks in Switzerland. Understanding current behaviours and perceptions will enable the development of effective communication and prevention strategies, both to address today's challenges and to cope with future health impacts.