Climate change impacts evidently on the Earth's ecosystems, including flora, fauna, and even living environment of mankind. One of the consequences is the increasing threat of emerging and re-emerging vector-borne infectious diseases. The United Nation (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both have made suggestions and corresponding strategies to reduce health risks associated with vector-borne diseases in recent years. The current project aimed to strengthen the works in EPA's capacity as the adminisphere, on one hand, to keep track of trends of global environmental health and vector control, and on the other hand, to provide basic surveillance data and standard control measures for local agencies for reference. The above goals were gradually carried out from four aspects. First, literature review: information about climate change and the latest epidemics of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, rodent-transmitted Hantavirus, rodent or flea-borne plague, tick-borne anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), was comprehensively reviewed. Recent developments of control strategies for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in different countries, for example, the global vector control response 2017-2035 promoted by the World Health Organization, were integrated. Second, implementation of dengue prevention in campuses and communities: adaptation strategies of vector-borne diseases to climate change were actively carried out. The project was to assist local units to mobilize the communities to engage in environmental health and disease prevention, especially dengue fever. In agreement with spirit of the 12-year compulsory education, a teacher and a student from the selected schools were trained as the seeded teachers to pass on the knowledge and promote vector control practically. All five of the schools have started the campaigns in their campuses and communities. Third, establishing background information for vectors: the distribution and population of pests of environmental health importance were monitored systematically. The ecological characteristics of dengue vector mosquitos were investigated in the communities with previous dengue outbreaks in Taipei and Taichung. Breeding sources once removed during the outbreaks were placed back, which revealed the insufficiency of current health education of dengue prevention. As for the nuisance mosquito, Culex pipiens molestus, an infestation rate of 83.4% (68/84) were found in the buildings with underground facilities in Taipei. Another study reported the re-emergence of bed bugs in 10 cities/counties in Taiwan. The infestation rates were highest for foreign worker dormitories (33%), following by fishing boats (25%) and hotels (17%). Fourth, development of a local integrated vector control strategy and environmental improvement program: data accumulating through surveys, experiences exchange between experts, and front-line workers would be used to develop localized, feasible, standardized, and scientific strategies for epidemic prevention which also take sustainability into account. The project involved literature review, analysis of epidemics, health education in campuses, vector surveillance, and experience exchange between experts on epidemic prevention in expectation of developing a sustainable and feasible vector control strategy in Taiwan.
