Developing a climate-based tool to identify dengue and leptospirosis risks in Southeast Asia
Categories: Climate Change & Health Vulnerability & Adaptation Assessments, Health National Adaptation Plans, Country experience, Western Pacific, South East Asia, Climate Resilient Health Systems
Credit: ECOMORE Context
Climate change combined with modifications of the natural ecosystems due to rapid urbanisation, deforestation and agricultural intensification deforestation are key factors in the emergence or re-emergence of infectious diseases in Southeast Asia. Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines have experienced several epidemics of dengue fever over the past decade and are affected by leptospirosis, a neglected and emergent infectious disease. National authorities and policy-makers in the region need reliable information to improve prevention and control interventions against these two major public health threats.
Implementation process
The ECOsystem MOdification and emerging infectious diseases Risk Evaluation (ECOMORE) II project helps authorities target control efforts and respond early to outbreaks. The initiative supports regional cooperation to improve infectious disease prevention amid climate change. ECOMORE II is coordinated by the Institut Pasteur. It brings together Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Institut Pasteur du Laos, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Vietnam, the National Health Laboratory in Myanmar, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Philippines and IRD in France, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The Action Line 1: Surveillance and Monitoring framework outlined in the Belém Action Plan can significantly assist the implementation of the ECOMORE II project by providing robust, climate-informed health surveillance systems. Integrating environmental, meteorological, and climate data with health monitoring enables early detection and risk prediction of diseases like dengue and leptospirosis, aligning with ECOMORE II’s goal of mapping transmission risks. Additionally, developing decision-support tools such as risk dashboards and heat maps, as recommended, can enhance the practical usability of ECOMORE II’s web platform for public health authorities. Strengthening real-time data collection, cross-sectoral information sharing, and capacity building within local health systems—key components of the plan—further ensures that regional climate services are effectively operationalized and responsive to emerging climate-sensitive health threats.
Lessons learned
Key lessons from the ECOMORE II project include the importance of integrating climate and environmental data into public health planning to effectively target vector-borne disease control. It highlights the value of regional collaboration and data sharing for enhanced epidemic preparedness.
Challenges
Challenges faced include ensuring data quality, capacity-building for local authorities, and adapting models to changing climate scenarios. Overall, combining scientific innovation with policy engagement is crucial for sustainable health resilience under climate change.
Success factors
The project provides a Web-based platform to public health authorities for visualizing long-term climate scenarios with vector risks and possible impacts on dengue outbreaks and leptospirosis incidence. This operative tool would allow authorities to better focus on vector control activities towards hotspots and enable them to organize early response activities to prevent outbreaks. The project will also promote a regional dynamic, which is the adequate level to build an effective response to such issues.
Recommendations
Technical assistance, capacity building and tailored tools that strengthen climate-health integration ATACH can support country implementation of the Belém Action Plan by providing technical assistance, capacity building, and tailored tools that strengthen climate-health integration. Specific activities that would be helpful include:
- Developing and customizing climate-informed health surveillance and early warning systems aligned with Action Line 1, including risk dashboards and decision-support tools.
- Conducting training workshops for health professionals and local authorities on climate-health data integration, risk prediction, and communication strategies.
- Supporting the creation of community engagement programs that incorporate traditional and local knowledge to enhance surveillance and resilience.
- Facilitating intersectoral collaboration by providing frameworks and tools for effective communication among health, meteorological, and other relevant sectors.
- Assisting in the development of protocols and operational guidelines for monitoring climate-sensitive diseases, ensuring accessibility and inclusiveness. These activities would directly bolster the country's capacity for proactive climate-health response, aligning with the objectives of the Belém Action Plan.
More Information
Link to the map Ecomore II Climate Platform (usth.edu.vn), all communication documents can be found here Ecomore Project