Vietnam’s health sector is stepping up to the growing threat of climate change with an innovative digital tool that predicts dengue outbreaks before they occur. The E-Dengue project, developed with leadership from Griffith University’s Centre for Environment and Population Health (CEPH), was recently featured on Vietnam’s international television channel, VTV4.
Vietnam is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, where rising temperatures, heavier rainfall and frequent natural disasters are reshaping disease patterns. “For every one-degree increase in temperature, we see a measurable rise in hospitalisations, particularly from dengue and heat-related illnesses,” said Professor Cordia Chu, Director of CEPH.
“The health sector must move from reacting to crises to predicting and preventing them.”
The E-Dengue system does exactly that. By integrating climate, environmental and epidemiological data, it can forecast dengue outbreaks at the district level up to three months in advance. Accessible via mobile and web platforms, the tool provides real-time risk maps, alerts, and prevention guidance tailored for frontline health workers.
