Members of the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS) team attended the TickNet Canada Science Symposium earlier this month in Nanaimo, BC. CAHSS Project Lead, Talia Strong, gave a presentation on Vector Vigilance: Uncovering Emerging Disease Threats and Resources where they talked about the power of CAHSS' social surveillance networks, achievements of the vector-borne disease network, and a new project created in collaboration with Community for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers.

The project will expand the understanding of vector borne diseases in North America that are present or likely to emerge. The project aims to deliver a user-friendly, interactive dashboard that would act as a centralized hub of resources, with data filters including geographic range, management measures (vector/animal/pathogen), vertebrate host of vector, and more. Information from the dashboard will allow for rapid assessments of vector-borne disease risks and provide evidence-based information on effective response.