Topic: Controlling Biting-Insect Populations
Country: Nepal
Delegate Name: Anudeeta Gautam
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Nepal position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
Whether it be an industrialized nation or a developing world, vectors, organisms that transmit infectious diseases between humans and animals, are prevalent everywhere. Although preventable with effective measures and public awareness, vector-borne diseases continue to consist of more than 17% of the deaths from all infectious diseases. Up until 2013, Nepal has had a low occurrence of endemic diseases–only one or two, such as those caused by biting flies (Tabanidae). The issue of vectors has been increasingly growing and Nepal supports what the United Nations is currently doing to control biting-insect populations.
Due to migrant workers from India and climate changes of tropical highlands and temperate regions, Nepal is now endemic for five vector-borne diseases: malaria, lymphatic filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, visceral leishmaniasis and dengue fever. In 2013, malaria vectors were found in 38 out of 75 districts, in areas of Terai lowlands as well as hilly regions. Places of minimum and maximum temperatures are also at risk, with a predicted increase in highlands due to climatic change. Between 2002 and 2012, lymphatic filariasis was confirmed endemic in 60 districts of Nepal including mountain region districts. With the support of the World Health Organization in May 2004, Japanese encephalitis cases were reported from 40 additional districts including three mountain regions between 2004 and 2012, adding to the already reported 24 districts of lowland Terai. Visceral leishmaniasis saw its peak in Nepal around 2003 with almost 2500 reported cases, but as of 2012, the number has reduced to about 600. The increasing trend has a positive relationship with the rainy season, with the fewest cases during the winter. Nepal’s first reported outbreak of dengue fever, a local transmission by Aedes aegypti, was in nine urban areas of lowland Nepal in 2016; by 2013, it has expanded to 18 districts. Further risk stems from the fact that Nepal is a popular tourist destination and natives can contract many of the diseases they bring. Additionally, the atmosphere has become more vulnerable due to the recent earthquake and many communicable diseases have been spreading. The public has taken protocols by wearing face masks and it has developed into a popular new business for street vendors.
Nepal advocates the continuation of the United Nations’ current methods of prevention and control: long-lasting insecticidal nets, indoor and outdoor residual spraying, and addition of chemicals to water, environmental management (reducing breeding habitats, biological control, genetic control, waste management), housing modification, personal protection, and medication (prophylaxis and preventive therapies, mass treatment, vaccines, blood and body fluid safety, food safety). Nepal also supports its efforts to meet the challenges in the control of vector-borne diseases: emerging insecticide resistance, lack of expertise, surveillance, sanitation and access to safe, drinking water, pesticide safety, and environmental change.
