Topic: 2024-Spread of Animal Viruses
Country: Senegal
Delegate Name: Molly Delp
Country: Senegal
Committee: WHO
Topic: The Spread of Animal Viruses
Delegate: Molly Delp
School: Williamston High School
The spread of animal viruses is a very serious issue that leads to an estimated 2.7 million deaths per year. It is also estimated that about 60% of human infections have originated from an animal, and this percentage is only getting bigger. Zoonotic diseases are caused by harmful germs like bacteria, parasites, and fungi. These viruses spread from animals to people by humans coming into direct contact with saliva, blood, urine, feces, and other bodily fluids of an infected animal. They can also spread by indirect contact, or from people eating contaminated food. The spread of animal viruses is a very large issue in developing nations, where the response to control many infectious diseases are reactive instead of proactive due to most preventive measures being very expensive. The United Nations Environment Programme has released many reports to help prevent future outbreaks including the report, Preventing the Next Pandemic: Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission. There has also been a proposed UN convention on Animal Health and Protection (UNCAHP) but it has not yet been adopted.
Senegal takes the issue of animal viruses very seriously, mainly because zoonotic diseases are a very high risk in Senegal due to the proximity and frequency of interactions between humans and animals. Previously, Senegal has faced the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), and their preparedness and response to that outbreak helped prevent the 2014 EVD outbreak in West Africa from spreading to Senegal. In some of their preparedness and response actions, the WHO dispatched three senior epidemiologists to undertake urgent contact tracing. They monitored all contacts daily and those with symptoms were immediately tested, and as a result of this rapid response, there were no further transmissions. The government of Senegal has recognized the importance of a One Health approach to prevent and respond to future zoonotic disease outbreaks, which works at the local, regional, national, and global levels with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. In addition, human and animal health stakeholders and their partners identified six priority zoonotic diseases that they agreed upon to guide investments and prioritization in addressing infectious disease threats.
Senegal would propose to resolve this issue by continuing to focus on implementing a One Health approach to health outcomes and zoonotic diseases. Senegal wishes to decrease the amount of outbreaks and deaths from zoonotic diseases and is looking to work with other nations at improving this health aspect. Senegal is looking to work with other countries facing similar issues to work together to help prevent these diseases from spreading. Senegal expects to find allies in countries like the U.S., France, and countries in the African Union. In addition, the UN could work to ratify conventions and treaties to help prevent future zoonotic outbreaks, as there is currently a lack of treaties that address this problem that many countries are facing.
