Vietnam’s health sector innovates to tackle climate change: The E-Dengue project
CORDIA CHU AND TUAN PHAM |
As the impacts of climate change intensify across Southeast Asia, the health consequences are becoming increasingly urgent and complex. In Vietnam, rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and more frequent extreme weather events are already exacerbating the spread of infectious diseases. For public health authorities, this means grappling with shifting patterns of risk and a growing need to move from reactive crisis response to proactive prevention.
One of the most promising innovations to emerge in this context is the E-Dengue Project—a pioneering digital early warning system designed to forecast dengue outbreaks. At the core of this initiative is the strategic leadership and technical expertise of the Griffith University’s Centre for Environment and Population Health (CEPH), whose contributions are helping shape a new model for climate-responsive health systems in Vietnam. The project demonstrates how technology, science, and local engagement can combine to create climate-responsive health systems.
Climate change and health in Vietnam
Vietnam is widely regarded as one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Its geography—stretching across tropical latitudes with a long, low-lying coastline—makes it especially susceptible to rising sea levels, storms, and floods. But alongside these visible threats, climate change is also driving invisible health burdens.
Warmer temperatures and more intense rainfall create favourable conditions for mosquitoes, accelerating the transmission of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever, Zika, and chikungunya. Recent research highlights the scale of the challenge: a one-degree Celsius rise in temperature can increase child hospitalisations by up to 4.6 percent, while dengue incidence may rise by 7 to 11 percent. Among older adults, cardiovascular-related hospital admissions can increase by as much as 13 percent. Heat-related illnesses, including strokes, are also projected to surge in frequency and severity.
With global climate models forecasting record temperatures between 2025 and 2030—potentially more than 2.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels—the pressure on Vietnam’s health systems is only set to grow.
The E-Dengue project: Predicting outbreaks before they happen
Against this backdrop, the E-Dengue Project stands out as a bold step forward. By integrating climate, environmental, and epidemiological data, the system can predict dengue outbreaks at the district level up to three months in advance.
The tool, which is available on both web and mobile platforms, provides health workers with:
- Real-time risk maps to visualise areas of highest vulnerability.
- Targeted alerts to guide local preparedness and response.
- Prevention guidance tailored to local conditions and needs.
This shift—from reacting to outbreaks to anticipating and preventing them—represents a major transformation in public health strategy.
CEPH’s leadership and collaborative approach
At the heart of the E-Dengue Project is the leadership of Griffith University’s Centre for Environment and Population Health (CEPH), which has been advancing research on climate, health, and sustainability in Asia for over two decades.
Under the guidance of Professor Cordia Chu, CEPH applied a Comprehensive Needs Assessment Framework to ensure that the E-Dengue system was co-produced with Vietnamese stakeholders. This approach ensured that the tool was not only scientifically robust, but also culturally relevant, user-friendly, and aligned with the practical realities of local health systems.
“Technology alone is never enough,” Prof Chu explains. “For an innovation to succeed, it must be trusted, usable, and embedded into the day-to-day operations of the health sector. That requires partnership, co-produce, and local ownership.”
This philosophy has guided CEPH’s efforts to integrate the system into existing surveillance and control programs across the Mekong Delta. By embedding E-Dengue into routine operations, CEPH has supported long-term sustainability and capacity building within Vietnam’s health sector.
From research to real-world impact
One of the most striking aspects of the E-Dengue Project is its real-world impact. Local health officials report that the tool has helped them act more quickly and effectively, reducing the time between identifying risk and mobilising community-level prevention campaigns.
For frontline health workers, access to reliable forecasts and risk maps has been described as a “game changer,” enabling them to target interventions such as vector control, community education, and resource allocation before outbreaks spiral out of control.
The project has also strengthened collaboration across government, academia, and international partners—building the foundations for a more resilient and adaptive health system.
Beyond Dengue: A model for climate-responsive health systems
While the immediate focus of the project is dengue fever, the broader vision is much more ambitious. The E-Dengue framework can be adapted to monitor and forecast other climate-sensitive diseases, from influenza strains to hand, foot and mouth disease. Its principles—data integration, digital innovation, and co-production with local stakeholders—offer a blueprint for climate-health adaptation globally.
“Vietnam’s experience shows that climate change is not only a threat but also a catalyst for innovation,” Prof Chu notes. “By combining science, technology, and strong partnerships, we can build health systems that are proactive, resilient, and equitable.”
A vision for global health security
For CEPH, the E-Dengue Project is part of a broader commitment to advancing Global Health Security through One Health and Planetary Health frameworks. By addressing the interconnected drivers of disease—including environmental changes, population dynamics, and social vulnerability—CEPH’s work aims to ensure that health systems are better prepared for the challenges of a rapidly warming world.
The success of the E-Dengue Project in Vietnam highlights the importance of international collaboration in tackling the health impacts of climate change. It also underscores the role of academic institutions like Griffith University in bridging research and practice, ensuring that scientific knowledge translates into real benefits for communities on the frontline of climate vulnerability.
In a time when the climate crisis is reshaping health risks across the globe, Vietnam’s E-Dengue Project offers more than a local solution. It is a model of how innovation, partnership, and foresight can help societies adapt—and protect the most vulnerable—before crises strike.
Professor Cordia Chu AM, Directorand Dr Tuan Pham, Research and Engagement Fellow of the Centre for Environment and Population Health, are members of the Griffith Asia Institute.