Predicting Tomorrow’s Outbreaks Today: AI for Zoonotic Risk

Date:

15 April 2026, Wednesday

Time:

2pm SGT (Time Zone Conversion)

Platform:

Zoom 

Synopsis:

Zoonotic diseases, which transfer between species, have existed for millennia and include SARS, MERS, Ebola, and COVID-19. While monitoring systems exist, predicting new outbreaks remains challenging. This project develops a machine learning model to forecast potential disease emergence sites using factors like deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, and demographic changes.

The system integrates diverse datasets—population density, biodiversity, infrastructure, and animal disease data—focusing initially on the Mekong Basin. Using spatial analytics, the algorithm identifies key geographic and environmental drivers of risk. Future enhancements include automated data ingestion, improved predictive accuracy, and an expert-facing interface. This presentation encapsulates our journey so far, our learnings along the way and future intentions and applications.

About the speakers:

Shaun Martin
Senior Project Manager for WWF Asia-Pacific Counter-Illegal Wildlife Trade Hub

Andy Wallace
Project manager and technology innovator