Midges’ role in spreading disease to be investigated

Scientists say there are still major gaps in knowledge about UK mosquitoes and midges. They want to better understand how these insects spread diseases, what puts people and animals at risk, and how best to control them.

Researchers hope the new project called Pamec (Preparing for and Mitigating the Impacts of Environmental Change on Insect-Borne Disease in the UK) will help answer some of these questions.

The programme builds on the earlier Mosquito Scotland project, which looked at the risk posed by mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases across Scotland.

Dr Emilie Pondeville, of the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, said the project would combine laboratory research with field studies carried out at locations across the UK.

“Together this information will help inform new mathematical models that should enable us to better understand the current and future risks we face,” she said.

She will lead the project alongside Heather Ferguson, Professor of Medical Entomology and Infectious Disease Ecology at the University of Glasgow.