WAASuN International Conference On Arboviruses 2026: A Landmark Gathering for Stronger Arbovirus Surveillance and Action
The 6th Annual Meeting of the West African Aedes Surveillance Network (WAASuN) and the 1st International Conference on Arboviruses, held in Praia, Cabo Verde, has successfully concluded, marking an important milestone in the collective effort to strengthen surveillance, research, innovation, and preparedness against emerging arboviral threats in Africa and beyond.
Held under the theme, “Strengthening Regional Entomological Surveillance within the Context of Climate Change, Innovation, and Integrated Action in Response to Emerging Threats,” the conference brought together researchers, entomologists, epidemiologists, public health professionals, policymakers, early-career scientists, and partners to share evidence, exchange knowledge, and build stronger collaborations for the future.
The meeting reflected how far WAASuN has come since its beginnings in Sierra Leone nine years ago. What started as a regional platform for sharing knowledge and experience on Aedes-borne diseases has evolved into an increasingly connected scientific network with growing international relevance. The Praia meeting further demonstrated that the challenges posed by dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika, and other emerging vector-borne diseases cannot be addressed in isolation. They require regional cooperation, sustained surveillance, innovation, investment, and a shared commitment to translating science into action.
The scientific programme showcased the depth and diversity of arbovirus research across Africa and beyond. Presentations and country updates explored molecular and genomic approaches, climate change and vector ecology, innovations in Aedes surveillance, and integrated vector management. The Book of Abstracts (attached) captures a rich body of work spanning countries including Cabo Verde, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Togo, The Gambia, Niger, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
The scientific discussions highlighted the rapidly changing landscape of arboviral risk. Studies presented evidence on dengue virus circulation, Aedes population dynamics, insecticide resistance, genetic adaptation, invasive mosquito species, urbanization, climate-related changes in vector ecology, human biting behaviour, vector surveillance at international entry points, and innovative approaches to integrated vector management. Together, these contributions reinforced a central message: effective arbovirus preparedness must be built on strong, continuous, locally relevant entomological intelligence.
The conference also created space for the next generation of African scientists. Capacity-building remains at the heart of WAASuN’s mission, with the network having supported collaborative training in areas including insecticide resistance monitoring, Anopheles stephensi identification, arbovirus detection, data analysis, and molecular approaches. A dedicated workshop for early-career African scientists further strengthened expertise in detecting and interpreting insecticide resistance mutations in Aedes aegypti—an investment that will continue to shape the future of vector surveillance across the continent.
The meeting was enriched by distinguished scientific contributions, including the keynote address by Prof. Amy Morrison, whose decades of dengue and Aedes aegypti surveillance experience in Iquitos, Peru, offered valuable lessons for strengthening transmission-focused and area-wide approaches to arbovirus prevention. The conference programme also featured expertise in vector genomics, insecticide resistance, population genetics, epidemiology, public health, and One Health approaches.
Beyond the presentations and scientific sessions, perhaps the greatest success of WAASuN 2026 was the spirit of collaboration it fostered. The conference demonstrated the power of bringing together institutions, countries, disciplines, and generations of scientists around a common purpose. It reaffirmed that surveillance is not simply about collecting data—it is about building systems, relationships, skills, and evidence that can guide timely decisions and protect communities.
As WAASuN looks ahead, the Praia meeting stands as both a celebration of progress and a call to action. With arboviral threats expanding and climate change, urbanization, globalization, and environmental transformation reshaping mosquito ecology, the need for coordinated regional surveillance has never been greater. WAASuN remains committed to strengthening entomological surveillance capacity, advancing innovation, supporting collaborative research, and working with regional and global partners to build a more resilient response to emerging vector-borne disease threats.
The WAASuN Executive Committee and Local Organizing Committee extend heartfelt appreciation to the funders and sponsors, keynote and guest speakers, country focal persons, researchers, early-career scientists, partners, volunteers, and every participant whose commitment and active engagement made the conference possible. Their collective contributions transformed the meeting from a scientific gathering into a platform for connection, learning, partnership, and renewed action.
From Praia, the message is clear: the future of arbovirus surveillance in Africa will be stronger when we work together.
WAASuN 2026 has ended, but the conversations, collaborations, ideas, and commitments forged in Praia will continue to shape the work ahead. The network moves forward with renewed purpose—stronger together, better prepared, and committed to turning entomological intelligence into meaningful public health action.
