In 2022, Vietnam went through one of its worst dengue outbreaks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were more than 360,000 reported cases of dengue and 140 deaths in Vietnam [PDF]. By comparison, in 2021, Vietnam recorded 72,880 cases and 27 deaths [PDF].
Funded by Wellcome, the E-Dengue project will create a digital dengue early warning system (EWS) that is based on a prediction model to help local communities and health centres mitigate outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease in the Mekong Delta Region (MDR).
What is dengue?
Dengue is a viral infection spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. It is found in regions with tropical or sub-tropical climates.
This vector-borne disease causes symptoms such as high fever, severe headache and muscle and joint pains. It has no specific treatment.
According to the WHO, half of the world’s population is at risk of dengue, with roughly 100 to 400 million cases annually.