Southeastern Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (VBD)
Location: University of Florida, Florida International University, University of Miami, University of South Florida
Funded through December 2021
Key VBD Issues
- Mosquito-borne diseases: Dengue, West Nile virus
- Tickborne diseases: Spotted fever group rickettsioses, includes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis
- Invasive species: Asian longhorned tick
By the Numbers

A Southeast COE student trainee examines the results of a tick drag at Sesquicentennial State Park in South Carolina.
- 149 undergraduate students completed Urban Vector Ecology course; 362 student interns trained in invasive Aedes aegypti surveillance and source reduction
- 975 people enrolled in Online Mosquito Training Program for pest managers and public health entomologists
- 224 students and professionals trained across multiple workshops designed for specific locations
Regional Resources
- A Mosquito Training for Pest Managers and Public Health Entomologists course offers free training in integrated pest management best practices.
- Detailed species distribution models for tick species throughout Florida. The model will be expanded to the region for data-driven decision making.
- Services to stakeholders, including mosquito sample testing for pathogens during West Nile virus and dengue outbreaks and locally tailored training workshops.
Research
- Identifying mosquito habitats, behavior, and arbovirus infection rates in urban areas to improve effectiveness of mosquito control
- Discovering new compounds and figuring out new ways to use Environmental Protection Agency-registered active ingredients to reverse insecticide resistance in mosquitoes
A Southeast COE partner dips for mosquito larvae at a construction site in Miami, Florida.
Characterizing occurrence, mechanisms, and effects of pesticide resistance in ticks to improve tick control
Major Collaborators
- Departments of health or agriculture in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia
- Academic partners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia
- Local and regional mosquito and vector control agencies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Puerto Rico
- Navy Entomology Center of Excellence; USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology; and the CDC Dengue Branch
See a mapexternal icon of our partners.
For More Information
Page last reviewed: June 17, 2021