An Interdisciplinary Approach in Improving Preparedness for Post-Disaster Dengue in George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Abstract

Risk communication that mosquito-borne infectious diseases such as dengue could follow water-related disasters is insufficiently seen. Dengue could pose a significant public health challenge to the disaster-stricken, already vulnerable locations. Outbreaks of infectious diseases and occurrences of natural disasters are on the rise, which are likely to cause negative impacts on tourist destinations. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town, Penang, Malaysia, is no exception. Academic researchers comprising experts in engineering, disaster management, medicine, and social sciences from three universities in Malaysia and Japan adopted an interdisciplinary approach in an effort to improve preparedness by addressing a gap in risk communication in public health and disaster risk reduction. The researchers conducted field studies in George Town involving multiple stakeholders in the heritage area and interviewed the local authority to understand the structure of governance for matters pertaining to dengue prevention and control in post-disaster situations. A lack of visual data was identified and the gap in risk communication was confirmed. We then observed drainage conditions in another world heritage site in Singapore for comparison, followed by an informational exchange with the local agencies handling public communication and flood prevention. Furthermore, we consulted with the disaster management authority in Putrajaya, Malaysia, to review the current preparedness at the heritage site in George Town. This interdisciplinary collaborative study aims to explore effective strategies and best practices for dengue prevention and control in association with disaster mitigation. The importance of community engagement and participatory approaches in implementing integrated risk communication is also discussed. Recommendations for future interventions are provided to guide policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in prioritizing and investing in collaborative approaches.