Scoping review maps infectious disease control in European border regions

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in cross-border cooperation for infectious disease control, particularly in European border regions where fragmented public health systems complicate coordinated responses. A new scoping review, published in BMC Infectious Diseases, brings together the available evidence on how these regions detect and manage infectious disease threats, the obstacles they face, and the solutions researchers have proposed.

Following JBI methodology, the reviewers searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane database of systematic reviews and grey literature sources, including studies published since 1994. Two independent reviewers carried out study selection and data extraction, resolving discrepancies through discussion, and the findings were reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. In total, 45 studies covering a range of study designs and cross-border regions were included.

The review found that most of the included studies focused on outbreak investigations and surveillance of respiratory infections, while vector-borne and other emerging infections were scarcely represented. Twelve recurring challenges emerged from the literature, including fragmented surveillance, inconsistent data sharing, and differences in national laws and procedures. These structural frictions, the authors note, complicate coordinated responses precisely where populations, health services and jurisdictions intersect.

Alongside the challenges, the review extracted eleven public health recommendations, addressing areas such as institutional collaboration, harmonised surveillance systems and improved data integration. However, the evidence base itself showed clear limitations: research was concentrated in specific border regions, and evaluation of cross-border interventions was limited. Southern and Eastern European areas were underrepresented, indicating gaps in geographical coverage.

EU project funding was frequently reported, particularly in the Netherlands–Germany–Belgium border region, but continuation of activities after projects ended was rarely evaluated. The authors conclude that this points to a need for institutional and financial arrangements, and for embedding cross-border collaboration in routine public health governance, to strengthen preparedness for future infectious disease threats. As a scoping review, the study maps and summarises existing literature rather than testing interventions, so its conclusions reflect the state and distribution of available research as much as the state of practice itself.

Subject of Research: Cross-border infectious disease control policies and practices in European border regions

Article Title: Policies and practices of infectious disease control in European border regions: a scoping review

Article References: van der Zanden, B. A. M., van Hensbergen, M., Gorgels, K., Kamenshchikova, A., Horstman, K., & Hoebe, C. J. P. A. (2026). Policies and practices of infectious disease control in European border regions: a scoping review. BMC Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14287-2

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12879-026-14287-2

Keywords: scoping review, cross-border health, infectious disease control, surveillance, COVID-19, public health governance, Europe, data sharing, outbreak investigation, EU funding, Policies, practices