Workshop: Improving knowledge of midge-borne diseases – a Nordic focus

The workshop will be held in a hybrid format, March 18 –19 2026 with the aim to enhance midge-borne disease preparedness in light of climate change and emerging threats in the Nordic region. 

Program at a glance

March 18, 11-17hr (break 12:00-13:00): Short-term focus - What is needed for midge-borne disease preparedness now? What was learned in the Nordic region from BTV-3?
March 19, 8:30-15hr (break 12:00-12:45): Long-term focus - How will environmental changes affect midge-borne disease risk.

Participants from all countries are welcome to join. The workshop is free of charge, but attendees are responsible for travel and hotel costs. Before booking travel and lodging, please wait for confirmation that in person attendance is possible. In person participation is limited to 40 participants and priority will be given to Nordic participants.

The workshop is organized by the Nordic Midge-borne Disease Network, hosted at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.

→ Register for the workshop here

The workshop is co-sponsored by:

Tentative program

11-12 Introduction & Where do we stand
13-14 Plenary: What are Nordic concerns from a One Health perspective and what did we learn from BTV-3?
14.15 - 15.15: Break-out work sessions by discipline
15.30-17.00: Plenary reporting and discussion: What do we need to know to minimize the impact of midge-borne diseases?
(evening: Nordic Midge-borne Disease Network session to develop governance document and set agenda 2026-2027)

8.30-8.45: Welcome & summary from Day 1
8.45 - 9.45: Plenary interactive session: Vector biology, host distribution and weather / climate, what to expect.
10.15 - 12.00: Break-out work sessions by disciplines to identify how environmental changes affect midge-borne disease dynamics and each discipline’s interaction with it. (10 min presentation, 10 min discussion, 10 min presentation 10 min discussion, followed by 20 min round the table for each participant to share their perspective in one minute)
12.45 - 13.45: Break out work session by activity groups identified in the morning
14.00 - 14.30: Presentations of ‘road maps to action’
14.30 - 15.00: Closing perspectives & meeting close

The workshop is structured to provide input for a perspective paper on midge-borne diseases in the Nordics.
The workshop will produce a workshop report for our non-commercial sponsors.
In the evening session, Nordic participants are invited to meet to work on the Governance document and 2026-2027 calendar for the Nordic Midge-borne Disease Network.

Where: Hybrid: Microsoft Teams & Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway
When: 18. March 2026 kl. 08.30 - 19. March 2026 kl. 15.00