Topic: 2024-Spread of Animal Viruses
Country: Egypt
Delegate Name: Asher Stein
Committee: ECOSOC/WHO
Topic: 2024 – The Spread of Animal Viruses
Country: Egypt
School: East Grand Rapids
Delegate Name: Asher Stein
The spread of animal-borne viruses, or diseases passed from animals to humans, is a growing issue in Egypt. Zoonotic diseases like avian influenza (bird flu), Rift Valley fever, and rabies pose serious risks to both human health and the economy. Egypt’s agricultural sector, which provides jobs for about 25% of the population, involves close contact between farmers and livestock, increasing the chances of these diseases spreading. Outbreaks of these illnesses have caused harm not only to people but also to farming communities that rely heavily on healthy animals for their livelihoods. Egypt must take steps to prevent these viruses from spreading further.
Egypt plans to focus on prevention, treatment, and education to address this issue. First, monitoring systems must be set up to track diseases in animals before they spread to humans. By creating a strong connection between veterinary and public health services, outbreaks can be identified and controlled quickly. Second, vaccines for high-risk animals like chickens and cattle are critical to stopping the spread of diseases like bird flu and Rift Valley fever. These vaccination programs can protect both animals and humans. Third, teaching farmers and rural communities how to safely handle animals and maintain clean environments can make a big difference. Education campaigns can help reduce risky practices that allow diseases to spread.
It is also important to measure the success of these efforts. Egypt proposes setting up a system to monitor outbreaks, vaccination rates, and the effectiveness of prevention programs. Progress should be reported regularly to the World Health Organization (WHO) and shared with other countries to learn from global experiences. Local communities should also be included in evaluations to ensure that programs meet their needs. By focusing on these strategies, Egypt aims to reduce the spread of animal-borne viruses, protect public health, and support farming families who are essential to the country’s economy.
Works Cited:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5617990/
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/16/7/09-1695_article
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rift-valley-fever
