Background of the Project

The overall burden of diarrheal diseases has been declining, in large part due to oral rehydration therapy (ORT). However, countries in the Asia-Pacific Region still experience disproportionately high rates of morbidity and mortality associated with diarrheal diseases, with more than 873,000 deaths/year in South Asia alone. This fact highlights the urgent need for an early warning system for diarrheal disease in the region to prevent disease outbreaks in communities impacted by extreme weather events, that are increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity.