Topic: Controlling Biting-Insect Populations
Country: United States
Delegate Name: Timothy Lee
School: Fishers High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All United States position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
Although the United States of America has never personally dealt with diseases cause by insects, or any other major problem caused by biting insects, the United States of America is aware that this is a significant problem, specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa, and we are willing to do anything we can to tackle the situation. Although different climates affect which diseases biting insects spread, the United States of America would like to mainly focus on the mosquitoes that spread malaria. Malaria is not only a problem for the people who are living, but an enormous problem for young children, pregnant women, and travelers who are from malaria-free environments. According to the World Health Organization, “In 2015, approximately 3.2 billion people – nearly half of the world's population – were at risk of malaria. Most malaria cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. However, Asia, Latin America, and, to a lesser extent the Middle East and parts of Europe, are also at risk. In 2015, 97 countries and territories had ongoing malaria transmission.”
Although it’s tempting to say that the solution to this problem is to just simply eliminate all the mosquitoes that carry malaria since it wouldn’t really change the ecosystem in anyway, the United States of America believes that this is not the most effective way to prevent diseases caused by biting insects because not only do all mosquitoes carry malaria, but some mosquitoes actually don’t bite at all, so it’s difficult to identify which mosquitoes are dangerous and which are not. Because of this, the United States of America believes that the most effective to combat this problem is to have the top minds and researches from around the world to figure out a way to either invent a vaccine to cure the diseases, or control the mosquito population.
Despite Sub-Saharan African countries having vaccines for malaria, studies have shown that the leading vaccine is less than 40% effective, so it is important for the top scientists all around the world to help develop vaccines that can cure, or at least modify the effects of the disease, so that not only can the people living Sub-Saharan African countries live free from malaria, but also keep travelers who have never experienced malaria, healthy and strong. If scientists choose to limit the mosquito population instead, there has been research of genetically modified mosquito that has the capability to kill of other mosquitoes. Research has shown that only male mosquitoes would be modified because it will not only not affect humans, animals, or the ecosystem, but also when these mosquitoes mate, their modified genes will not be passed down to their offspring. This will not only limit the mosquito population in Sub-Saharan Africa, but also limit malaria as well.
While this research goes on, the United States of America believes that the best way to counter mosquitoes that spread malaria right now is to distribute more mosquito nets, more bug spray, and to establish more hospitals with the proper medical staff, equipment, and supplies. The United States of America is aware that many people living in Sub-Saharan African nations have been using mosquito nets and indoor bug spray to limit their chances of catching malaria from mosquitoes. Because this is such an effective method whenever inside or sleeping, the United States of America asks that the United Nations and programs such as Doctors Without Borders disperse more of these items to help fight mosquitoes carrying malaria. Unfortunately, the United States of America is also aware that there is a limited amount of hospitals in these nations, so the United States of America asks that the United Nations convince these Sub-Saharan African nations to build more hospitals and medical centers, along with donating the medical staff, equipment and supplies to these hospitals in order to successfully combat the disease and have the people live healthier and fitter lives.
