WU and TICA Establishing International Collaboration on Data Gathering and Best Practice Development in Dengue and Zika Prevention Campaign

02Oct 2024 by Kittipong Bunlear

Outreach and Engagement

The Center of Excellence for Ecoinformatics at Walailak University is dedicated to advancing research, knowledge development, and the application of Ecoinformatics to support technological solutions for community and national development. For over five years, the center has been actively engaged in research projects and forming international partnerships to address various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a team of over 15 experienced researchers and scientists, the center strives to be a leading institution in Thailand for human resource development, research excellence, and innovation in Ecoinformatics.

The Establishment of International Collaboration of Walailak University and TICA and International Partners

Walailak University and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) have been establishing international cooperation with many countries, including least-developed and developing countries to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in food security, climate change, and environmental issues. One of the outstanding works of Walailak University, TICA, and international partners to address the SDGs is the Annual International Training Course (AITC) programme consisting of various sustainable development approaches-aimed courses offered to international participants to collaboratively develop best practices and conduct research projects. In 2023, the course under the AITC that Walailak University, TICA, and international partners had collaborated to collaboratively develop best practices, diagnose problems and challenges, and gather and measure relevant data for SDGs was the Dengue and Zika Prevention Campaign. The course was organized to tackle SDGs, especially SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 13: Climate Action.

Dengue and Zika Prevention Campaign

One of the most critical health impacts anticipated from climate change is the rising incidence of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever and Zika. The spread of these diseases is driven by a complex interaction between climate, the environment, and human activities. Over the past five decades, the incidence of dengue and Zika has surged thirtyfold, with outbreaks spreading into new regions, particularly in fast-growing urban and semi-urban areas in low- and middle-income countries, where water storage and waste management are often inadequate. In 2023, Thailand saw a dramatic rise in dengue cases, reaching 156,097 with 175 deaths, marking the highest number of cases since 2019.

As a research-intensive university, Walailak University has been at the forefront of combating these diseases through its expertise in the GLOBE mosquito protocol, which has been tested and implemented in Thailand for over 15 years. Thus, in collaboration with the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Walailak University, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Krisanadej Jaroensutasinee and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mullica Jaroensutasinee organized a course titled “Dengue and Zika Prevention Campaign” that was held from March 6-24, 2023. The course had been organized for three years consecutively with the purpose of building international partnerships for the development of best practices and data collection for disease prevention.

The course aimed to enhance dengue and Zika prevention through international collaboration, addressing climate change challenges and promoting sustainable development. It focused on building effective surveillance systems to advance dengue and Zika prevention in developing countries while monitoring trends in disease distribution, spread, and environmental risk factors. The workshop brought together 61 participants from various sectors, including health departments, provincial and local health authorities, private sector health managers, civil society organizations, faculty members, researchers, students, NGO staff, and interested citizens. These participants represented 11 countries: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, the Cook Islands, Ecuador, India, Moldova, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Uzbekistan.

All international participants learned various topics in the course through multiple sessions on dengue and Zika prevention including:

- 1. The overview of dengue and Zika symptoms and their causes for spreading.
  2. The impact of climate change on dengue and Zika incidences.
  3. GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper App training.
  4. Data gathering processes on GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper App in the field.
  5. GLOBE atmosphere protocol training.
  6. Sufficient Economy Philosophy (SEP) and its conceptual framework.
  7. Application of SEP in mosquito control as a community-based participation.
  8. Field trip to collect hydrology protocol in Ban Laem Community.
  9. GLOBE hydrology visualization and data interpretation on mosquito, hydrology, and climate changes.
  10. Capacity development for dengue and Zika prevention campaigns.
  11. Best practices for reducing dengue and Zika burden in each country.

Figure : The international participants implementing data gathering on mosquito larvae in various countries

Best Practices Development and reviewing comparative approaches Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mullica Jaroensutasinee led sessions focused on mosquito-related issues, covering topics such as mosquito biology, breeding habits, habitat preferences, and the impact of climate change. These sessions provided participants with essential knowledge about mosquitoes, enabling them to understand different species and develop effective dengue and Zika prevention strategies tailored to their countries’ contexts. Dr. Jaroensutasinee shared detailed information about dengue and Zika in Thailand, including the specific mosquito species responsible for these diseases and the practices implemented by the Thai Ministry of Public Health. This information served as a valuable resource for participants, helping them analyze and assess dengue and Zika situations in their own countries. By comparing Thailand’s strategies with their own, participants could formulate and refine best practices for dengue and Zika prevention relevant to their local contexts.

Figures : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mullica Jaroensutasinee lecturing on the genetic modification approaches for vectors for participants and other related issues

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Krisanadej Jaroensutasinee provided essential knowledge and data to international participants through sessions on data collection methods for mosquitoes and related topics. These sessions included training on the GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper App, GLOBE atmosphere and hydrology protocols, and data visualization techniques. Participants gained hands-on experience in gathering data on mosquito habitats, environmental conditions, mosquito populations, and water conditions affecting mosquito larvae. This training enabled participants to form partnerships in their respective countries to collaboratively collect and analyze data, which will serve as a foundation for developing best practices in dengue and Zika prevention.

Additionally, participants were required to prepare country reports detailing general information about their respective countries, including the historical background of dengue and Zika incidences, current control and prevention measures, existing challenges, future programs or projects for dengue and Zika prevention, and their expectations from the training course. During a dedicated session, participants presented their reports, allowing them to share data and insights about their country’s dengue and Zika situations. This exchange of information enabled participants to review and learn from each other’s best practices, facilitating the development of new, context-specific best practices for dengue and Zika prevention in their own countries.

Figures : The international participant from various countries presenting their country reports

Based on the measurement, the Dengue and Zika Prevention Campaign engaging with international partners yielded significant results, successfully implementing new prevention strategies in their home countries. The data gathered during the workshop contributed to improved surveillance and risk assessment method development, enabling more targeted interventions in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases. Moreover, the strengthened international partnerships have led to ongoing collaborations and further research, positioning Walailak University as a key player in global efforts to combat dengue and Zika while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

All the workshop sessions can be watched as follows:

Related links:

https://riie.wu.ac.th/ecoinf/

https://riie.wu.ac.th/ecoinf/2023/08/15/aitc-on-dengue-and-zika-prevention-campaign/

https://image.mfa.go.th/mfa/0/GH2PYnujXi/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3/1._AITC_Dengue_and_Zika_Campaign_Workshop20221220.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kRE7NOiXrc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zXGehjQiEg

https://www.youtube.com/@KJaroensutasinee/videos

https://www.facebook.com/ecoinfo

https://www.facebook.com/DengueAndZikaPrevention/videos

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Goal 13: Climate Action

Goal 3: Good Health and Well Being

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WU and TICA Establishing International Collaboration on Data Gathering and Best Practice Development in Dengue and Zika Prevention Campaign

Outreach and Engagement