On June 4-5, 2025, 17 entomologists, health geographers and research engineers from across in Southeast Asia gathered for the ECOMORE Entomology & Climate Workshop, aimed at finalizing the regional entomology protocol of the project, funded by the AFD (Agence française de développement).

The two-day workshop brought together experts from 8 organizations:

• Cambodia: Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC)
• Vietnam: National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (NIMPE), Institut Pasteur in Nha Trang (IPNT), and Institut Pasteur in Ho Chi Minh City (IPHCMC)
• Laos: Institut Pasteur du Laos (IPL)
• Philippines: Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM)
• France: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)

This technical exchange allowed teams to align on standardized methodologies, trapping methods, and tools to be used across the project’s entomological studies. The finalized protocol will guide vector surveillance activities in diverse ecological settings, with an emphasis on understanding the impacts of climate variability on vector-borne disease transmission in the region.

In addition to technical discussions, the workshop also addressed the transversal Indo-Pacific dimension of the ECOMORE project. Representatives from the Epidemiological Surveillance and Alert Management Network (SEGA One Health) of the Indian Ocean Commission, and the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN) of the Pacific Community, joined the conversation, respectively Dr. Diana Pillay Ilayoo, Head of the Vector Biology and Control Division at the Ministry of Health of Mauritius, and Dr. Sala Saketa, Senior Epidemiologist. Both gave comprehensive and engaging presentations on their networks’ entomological activities, the priorities of their member states, and the challenges they face, highlighting the proactive strategies they employ to detect and respond to outbreaks effectively. They offered a rich and enlightening perspective to the discussion, and valuable insights on capacity-building and cross-border collaboration.

This workshop marked a significant step forward in strengthening regional preparedness and scientific collaboration in the face of climate-sensitive health threats. It also reinforces ECOMORE’s commitment to advancing evidence-based approaches for vector control and public health decision-making throughout South-East Asia and beyond.