Sandra Antunes, a researcher from the VBD-GHTM Research Group, attended the Training School on the DAMA Protocol and Citizen Science for Monitoring and Preventing the Spread of Hyalomma and CCHFV, which took place in Madrid, Spain from 3 to 5 June 2026 as part of the PRAGMATICK COST Action.
The training school brought together researchers and experts from across Europe who specialise in ticks and tick-borne diseases. The programme focused on the DAMA protocol, citizen science approaches, and the surveillance of Hyalomma ticks and the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). It also covered the implementation of the One Health approach in monitoring and prevention strategies.
Throughout the event, participants attended lectures, took part in roundtable discussions and technical sessions, and engaged in practical activities related to tick surveillance and collection. These activities provided valuable opportunities to exchange knowledge, discuss current challenges and explore innovative approaches to monitoring tick populations and associated pathogens.
The PRAGMATICK COST Action brings together a European network of researchers dedicated to preventing, anticipating and mitigating the risks associated with ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Sandra Antunes and Ana Domingos, Research Group Leader of VBD-GHTM, are both members of the consortium and actively contribute to its scientific activities.
Participation in European research networks such as PRAGMATICK is important for strengthening international collaborations, fostering knowledge exchange between research groups and identifying future opportunities for scientific cooperation. Such interactions are particularly relevant in strategic areas such as vector surveillance, emerging infectious diseases, and public health.
The Training School also provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen collaborations with Spanish colleagues and discuss monitoring and prevention strategies for tick-borne diseases across the Iberian Peninsula and Europe. This contributes to a coordinated, multidisciplinary response to emerging vector-borne health threats.
