In the scope of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, GHTM | IHMT NOVA highlights the contribution of its researchers to the understanding, surveillance and clinical response to arboviral diseases, particularly dengue and chikungunya—two mosquito-borne infections that continue to pose major challenges to global health and travel medicine.
Dengue and chikungunya are among the most significant neglected tropical diseases worldwide, responsible for millions of infections every year and an increasing burden on health systems. Global mobility, intensified international travel and the geographic expansion of Aedes mosquitoes have heightened the risk of virus introduction and local transmission beyond traditionally endemic regions, including in Europe.
Integrated Research at GHTM – Vector Surveillance and Control
In this context, GHTM | IHMT NOVA has been developing integrated research across epidemiology, entomology, vector surveillance, public health and clinical medicine, strengthening preparedness for early detection and response to these infections. In recognition of this work, IHMT NOVA has been highlighted by WHO Europe as a reference institution for dengue research, with a strong focus on surveillance, prevention and risk communication, particularly in the context of mass gathering events and preparedness for potential virus circulation in Europe. WHO Europe also emphasised the importance of VIASEF as a high-security research infrastructure in Europe, essential for conducting excellence-driven research in this field. In addition, the IHMT citizen science project MosquitoWeb was highlighted for its value and prestige, with community participation recognised as crucial for the identification of the dengue vector in Portugal.
A key focus of this work is the monitoring and control of mosquito vectors, particularly Aedes albopictus, an invasive species now established in several southern European countries and capable of transmitting dengue, chikungunya and other arboviruses. This area is a particular focus of the research of Carla Sousa and her team at the VBD–GHTM Research Group. Their work focuses on entomological surveillance, vector ecology, and control strategies. Combined with risk communication and community engagement, entomological surveillance plays a crucial role in prevention strategies and early warning systems.
Clinical Response and Travel Medicine
Alongside research activities, IHMT NOVA plays a significant role in clinical response and travel medicine. The Travel Medicine Clinic acts as a bridge between research and clinical practice, providing pre-travel risk assessment, preventive advice, and post-travel clinical evaluation, including for suspected or confirmed cases of dengue and chikungunya.
Filomena Pereira, a researcher at the IHC–GHTM Research Group, is Director of the Tropical Medicine Clinical Unit at IHMT NOVA and President of the Board of the Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Medicina Tropical (ADMT). Under her leadership, the clinic has strengthened an integrated approach to arboviral diseases, contributing to the training of health professionals and raising awareness among travellers about mosquito-borne disease prevention.
From a clinical perspective, dengue and chikungunya present important diagnostic and management challenges, due to their wide range of clinical manifestations, the risk of severe disease, and the potential for long-term sequelae—particularly in the case of chikungunya. Specialised care and close collaboration between clinical services, research and public health are essential to improving patient outcomes.
In this context, IHMT NOVA provides specialised Travel Medicine and Tropical Medicine clinical services, offering expert medical advice before, during and after international travel. These services include individual risk assessment based on destination and travel profile, guidance on the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, vaccination and prophylaxis recommendations, and counselling on general precautions and clinical warning signs after return.
Cláudia Conceição and Luís Varandas, who are both specialists in internal medicine and paediatrics respectively, are members of the Tropical Medicine Clinical Unit at IHMT NOVA and the IHC–GHTM Research Group. They are also part of the Travel Vaccination Working Group , which was appointed by the Direcção-Geral da Saúde (DGS) in 2025.
The relevance of these services has increased in recent years, in line with the growing volume of international travel and the rising exposure of travellers to arboviral diseases. In addition to clinical practice, IHMT NOVA offers specialised training in Travel Medicine, equipping healthcare professionals with the skills needed to better recognise and manage risks associated with tropical diseases—an essential component of an integrated response to the global expansion of arboviruses.
By marking World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, GHTM reaffirms its commitment to scientific research, capacity building and population health protection, contributing to a more effective response to arboviral diseases and to the strengthening of global health in an increasingly interconnected world.
This article is published as part of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day celebrations. To learn more about our work on neglected tropical diseases, see our related news:
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day: Advancing Research to Leave No One Behind
World NTD Day: Decoding Leishmania from Dogs to Emerging European Vectors
Advancing Research on Helminth Neglected Tropical Diseases at GHTM
Sleeping Sickness: GHTM Research and Response on World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day