Aneta Afelt, PhD

Assistant Professor
Aneta Afelt, PhD
akafelt@uw.edu.pl aneta-afelt-16a8025b

ORCID 0000-0001-8744-2992

Bio

She is a geographer whose research focuses on the interdisciplinary application of geography and its research toolkit to comprehensive epidemiological analyses. Her fieldwork includes regions in Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America, where she investigates the relationship between anthropogenic environmental degradation and the risk of emerging zoonotic diseases. In her research, she highlights the importance of geographical analysis and environmental sciences within the One Health and Planetary Health frameworks—philosophies centered on the interdependent and equal consideration of human, animal, and environmental well-being within a socio-ecological niche.

Since 2024, she has been a member of the Editorial Team for Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae (ISSN: 1733-1218) in Warsaw, Poland.

She actively shares her expertise by collaborating with major media outlets (TVN, Polsat, TVP, Polskie Radio, TokFM, RadioZET), print publishers (The New York Times, Politico, Focus, Forbes, Deutsche Welle, Newsweek, Polityka, Gazeta Wyborcza, Rzeczpospolita), leading public and press seminars, and working with NGOs and public institutions (such as the Copernicus Science Centre and the Institute for Sustainable Development Foundation). She is a frequent invited speaker and keynote lecturer at national and international conferences, and the author of over 100 scientific publications, database outputs, reports, and strategic documents.

In April 2018, she and her colleagues published a prophetic article forecasting the risk of a new coronavirus outbreak in Southeast Asia: “Bats, Coronaviruses, and Deforestation: Toward the Emergence of Novel Infectious Diseases?” (Frontiers in Microbiology). She was among the first in Poland to publicly address the inevitable arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the country. She identified the radical reduction of geographical distance through global and regional connectivity as the key driver of this inevitability, creating a multidimensional network for interpersonal pathogen transmission.

She has participated in numerous national and international projects in epidemiology, public health, and the impact of climate change on the evolution of socio-ecological niches—funded by institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO), EEA Grants (2009–2014), the World Bank, and Horizon Europe. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as a member of the COVID-19 Advisory Team to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, a scientific consultant to national delegates on COVID-19 initiatives at the European Research Council (ERC), and a member of the COVID-19 Advisory Group to the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN).

She works at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling (ICM) at the University of Warsaw. Since October 2019, she has also been a guest researcher in the Espace-DEV research group, which specializes in socio-ecological niche modeling and is affiliated with the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) in Montpellier, France.

Domestically, she collaborates with public institutions and local governments, authoring methodologies, reports, and climate adaptation strategies related to national water management, climate change adaptation, and strategic environmental impact assessments.

Currently, in collaboration with 15 partner institutions across 11 countries, she and her colleagues at ICM are participating in Poland’s first Horizon Europe project in the field of Planetary Health: MOSAIC. The project aims to empower transboundary native populations with open-knowledge tools for decision-making during extreme climate events.

Research Interests

  • Epidemiological risk under climate change
  • Socio-ecological niche modeling
  • One Health and Planetary Health frameworks
  • Climate change impacts on natural and social environments

Awards

  • Rector’s Award for Scientific Achievements, University of Warsaw (2019)
  • Individual Rector’s Award, University of Warsaw (2020)
  • Nicolaus Copernicus Medal, Polish Academy of Sciences—Award for Scientific Achievements (2021)
  • Rector’s Award for Scientific Achievements, University of Warsaw (2021)
Selected Publications

  • Urban-rural disparities in self-reported dengue infection: A comprehensive analysis of the 2023 Indonesian health survey

    Mara Ipa; Asep Hermawan; Rais Yunarko; Tri Ramadhani; Muhammad Choirul Hidajat; Harimat Hendarwan; Triwibowo Ambar Garjito; Aneta Afelt; Supriyati Supriyati; Tri Wibawa

    Global Transitions (2025)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2025.08.003

  • Insights into spatio-temporal dynamics of Anopheles vectors while approaching malaria elimination along the Thailand-Cambodia border

    Manop Saeung, Natapong Jupatanakul, Aneta Afelt, Kittitat Suksirisawat, Suthat Lhaosudto, Alex Ahebwa, Jeffrey Hii, Sylvie Manguin, Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap

    Acta Tropica, Volume 263 (2025)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107545

  • Urban Green Spaces in Brazil: challenges and opportunities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

    Romero Gomes Pereira da Silva, Cláudia Lins Lima, Sterling D. Quinn, Aneta Afelt, Anne-Elisabeth Laques, Carlos Hiroo Saito

    Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae, vol. 21, No 1 (2023)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.21697/seb.2023.06

  • City thermal comfort – reality and challenges

    Aneta Afelt, Wojciech Szymalski, Kamil Leziak

    Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae, 20(3)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.21697/seb.2022.24

  • A tendency to worse course of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with obesity -MOIS-CoR study

    Aneta Monika Gawlik , Elzbieta Berdej-Szczot, Iga Chmiel, Miłosz Lorek, Aleksandra Antosz, Małgorzata Firek-Pędras, Lesław Szydłowski, Kamila Maria Ludwikowska, Magdalena Okarska-Napierała, Natalia Dudek, Krzysztof Piwoński, Aneta Afelt, Catherine Suski-Grabowski, Miron Bartosz Kursa, Ernest Kuchar, Leszek Szenborn, Teresa Jackowska, Jarosław Peregud Pogorzelski and Artur Mazur

    Frontiers in Endocrinology (2022)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.934373

  • Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in children diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporarily associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Poland: the MOIS-CoR study

    Kacper Toczyłowski , Joanna Łasecka-Zadrożna, Ilona Pałyga-Bysiecka, Kamila Maria Ludwikowska, Magdalena Okarska-Napierała, Natalia Dudek, Aneta Afelt, Catherine Suski, Miron Bartosz Kursa, Teresa Jackowska, Ernest Kuchar, Leszek Szenborn, MOIS-CoR Group, Katarzyna Mazur-Melewska

    International Journal of Infectious Diseases (2022)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2022.07.021

  • The chronicles of COVID-19. 2020-2021

    Jerzy Duszyński, Aneta Afelt, Anna Ochab-Marcinek, Radosław Owczuk, Krzysztof Pyrć, Magdalena Rosińska, Andrzej Rychard, Tomasz Smiatacz

    Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw (2021)

    DOI: https://journals.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/140620/edition/123843/content

  • La Pandémie du Covid-19 dans une perspective des sciences de la nature

    Afelt Aneta

    [in:] L’Europe centrale face au Covid, University of Warsaw

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.31338/uw.9788323557623.pp.16-31

  • The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: the epidemiological risk through an Anthropocene point of view

    Afelt Aneta

    [in:] Health security under emergency management. The experience of Covid-19 in the Wielkopolska region, Poland, University of Adam Mickiewicz

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/wnpid.2022.9788366740631.1

  • Distinct characteristics of Multisystem InflammatorySyndrome in Children in Poland

    Kamila Maria Ludwikowska, Magdalena Okarska-Napierała, Natalia Dudek, Paweł Tracewski, Jacek Kusa, Krzysztof Piwoński, Aneta Afelt, Dominik Cysewski, Mateusz Biela, Bożena Werner, Teresa Jackowska, Catherine Suski, Miron Bartosz Kursa, Ernest Kuchar, Leszek Szenborn

    Sci Rep 11, 23562 (2021)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02669-2

  • Computer Science vs. COVID-19

    Aneta Afelt, Aleksander Byrski, Victor Calo, Tyll Krüger, Lech Madeyski, Wojciech Penczek

    Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Technical Sciences, 69(4) (2021)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.24425/bpasts.2021.138096

  • Geographical distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in Poland, spring 2020 wave. What are the factors of spatial dynamic?

    Afelt Aneta, Kursa Miron

    [in:] Safety of elderly people in urban spaces. Study of experiences, conclusions and recommendations taking into account the period of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Monograph after XXV National Life Safety Forum, Adam Mickiewicz University

  • The world after Covid-19: vulnerabilities, uncertainties, and socio-environmental challenges

    Carlos Hiroo Saito, Anne-Elisabeth Laques, Aneta Afelt

    JUSTIÇA DO DIREITO, vol. 34, no. 2, p. 52-104

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.5335/rjd.v34i2.11009

  • Understanding COVID-19

    Jerzy Duszyński, Aneta Afelt, Anna Ochab-Marcinek, Radosław Owczuk, Krzysztof Pyrć, Magdalena Rosińska, Andrzej Rychard, Tomasz Smiatacz

    Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw (2020)

    DOI: https://journals.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/136172/edition/119069/content

  • O mundo após o Covid-19: vulnerabilidades, incertezas e desafios socioambientais

    Carlos Hiroo Saito, Anne-Elisabeth Laques, Aneta Afelt

    in: COVID-19 e seus paradoxos, Liton Lanes Pilau Sobrinho, Cleide Calgaro, Leonel Severo Rocha (red.), COVID-19 e seus paradoxos,UNIVALI, Brasil

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.5335/rjd.v34i2.11009

  • Monitoring of malaria vectors at the China-Myanmar border while approaching malaria elimination

    Shaosen Zhang; Zhengbin Zhou; Tianmu Chen; Xuezhong Wang; Wenqi Shi; Weikang Jiang; Julin Li; Xiaonong Zhou; Roger Frutos; Sylvie Manguin; Shuisen Zhou; Aneta Afelt

    Parasites & Vectors, 11:511

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3073-4

  • Japanese encephalitis in Indonesia: An update on epidemiology and transmission ecology

    Triwibowo Ambar Garjito, Widiarti, Yusnita Mirna Anggraeni, Sitti Alfiah, Tri Baskoro Tunggul Satoto, Achmad Farchanny, Gina Samaan, Aneta Afelt, Sylvie Manguin, Roger Frutos, Tjandra Yoga Aditama

    Acta Tropica 187, pp.240-247

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.08.017

  • Bats, Bat-Borne Viruses, and Environmental Changes

    Aneta Afelt, Christian Devaux, Jordi Serra-Cobo and Roger Frutos

    in: Bats, IntechOpen (2018)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.74377

  • Bats, Coronaviruses, and Deforestation: Toward the Emergence of Novel Infectious Diseases?

    Afelt Aneta, Roger Frutos, Christian Devaux

    Frontiers in Microbiology, 9:702 (2018)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00702

  • Distribution of bat-borne viruses and environment patterns

    Afelt A., Lacroix A., Zawadzka-Pawlewska U., Pokojski W., Buchy P., Frutos R.

    Infection Genetics and Evolution 58(2018), 181-191 (IF 2,737)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00702

  • Incidence of dengue and chikungunya virus in mosquitoes and human patients in border provinces of Vietnam

    Pham Thi Kim Lien, Laurence Briant, Laurent Gavotte, Pierrick Labbe, Marco Perriat-Sanguinet, Emmanuel Cornillot, Vu Trong Duo‏, Nguyen Thi Ye‏, Tran Vu Phong‏, Nguyen Van Soai, Christian Devaux, Aneta Afelt, Tran Chi Cuong, Phan Thi Nga, Tran Nhu Duong, Roger Frutos

    Parasites & Vectors 10(1) (2017)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2422-z

  • Anopheles vectors in Mainland China while approaching malaria elimination

    Shaosen Zhang, Shaohua Guo, Xinyu Feng, Aneta Afelt, Roger Frutos, Shuisen Zhou, Sylvie Manguin

    Trends in Parasitology, 33(11) (2017)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2017.06.010

  • Valine/isoleucine variants drive selective pressure in the VP1 sequence of EV-A71 enteroviruses

    Ngu, D.N., Thanh Huong, L.T., Ravel, P., Song Huong, L.T., Dwivedi, A., Sessions, O.M., Hou, Y.A., Chua, R., Kister, G., Afelt, A., Moulia, C., Gubler, D.J., Thiem, V.D., Hien Thanh, N.T., Devaux, C., Duong, T.N., Hien, N.T., Cornillot, E., Gavotte, L., Frutos, R.

    BMC Infectious Diseases, 17:333(1) (2017)

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-017-2427-4

  • Diversity of bat astroviruses in Lao PDR and Cambodia

    Lacroix A., Duong V., Hul V., Sorn S., Davun H., Omaliss K., Chea S., Hassanin A., Theppangna W., Silithammavong S., Khammavong K., Singhalath S., Afelt A., Greatorex Z., Fine A.E., Goldstein T., Olson S., Joly D.O., Keatts L., Dussart P., Frutos R., Buchy P.

    Infection Genetics and Evolution. 47 (2017) 41–50

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2016.11.013

  • Genetic diversity of coronaviruses in bats in Lao PDR and Cambodia

    Lacroix A., Duong V., Hul V., San S., Davun H., Omaliss K., Chea S., Hassanin A., Theppangna W., Silithammavong S., Khammavong K., Singhalath S., Greatorex Z., Fine A.E., Goldstein T., Olson S., Joly D.O., Keatts L., Dussart P., Afelt A., Frutos R., Buchy P.

    Infection Genetics and Evolution, 48 (2017) 10–18

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2016.11.029

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