Epidemiological surveillance in humans
The role of Sciensano’s Epidemiology of infectious diseases department is:
- to describe the epidemiology of anaplasmosis in Belgium (in terms of age, sex, geographical location and the country of infection)
- to monitor the trends over time
- and to identify potential risk factors.
The data is collected by the National Reference Center (NRC), the clinical laboratory at the Reine-Astrid military hospital.
The results are presented in an annual report, or in the ‘Other Publications’ section.
Surveillance of tick bites in humans
In 2015, Sciensano launched TiquesNet, a platform for citizen where citizens can report tick bites on humans that have been contracted in Belgium, via a website or a mobile phone application.
The aim of the project is to monitor the Belgian population’s exposure to tick bites over time and by location. The data allow Sciensano to map the period and the geographical zones that are at risk of high tick activity in Belgium, which will thus enable people potentially exposed to tick bites to take preventive measures.
The platform is also used to collect, at regular intervals, ticks that have bitten humans all over Belgium, in order to study the pathogens they carry.