Topic: Managing Secondary Effects of Disease Outbreaks
Country: Guyana
Delegate Name: Jackie Kelly
School: Vicksburg High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Guyana position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
There is no doubt a disease outbreak can cause a huge burden on a country, but most people think only of the primary effect, the loss of life. But there are secondary effects as well, such as the economical effects of the outbreak. For example the outbreak of Ebola in Africa caused a major collapse of the economies in the countries; Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. One reason there was such a negative effect on the economy of these nations is because of the cost to contain and cure the outbreak. Also as the disease infects more people less people are able to work which is one of the reasons so many businesses close. Another reason businesses will close is due to an extreme lack or halt of tourism, and trade as a result of closed borders, as an attempt to contain the spread of the disease.
Although there is no data directly showing economic downfall in Guyana due to the Zika virus, many neighboring nations and other South American countries are extremely affected by the Zika virus. Through trade and travel this puts Guyana not only at a risk of outbreak but of a negative economic effect as well. Overall in Latin American and Caribbean countries income has forgone .06% GDP, and fiscal revenue has forgone .01% GDP,420 million US dollars, by cause of the Zika virus. The scare of the Zika outbreak is heavily affecting the economy of smaller tourist attracting countries. Such a Belize whose income has forgone 21 million US dollars, or 1.22% GDP . Therefore the secondary effects of disease outbreaks not only affect the infected Nation but all other nations that import, and export with and travel to, and from the country with the outbreak. Guyana pushes for more funds not only to cure and prevent a disease, but to economically assist countries who are struggling during the time of an outbreak.
