Topic: Managing Secondary Effects of Disease Outbreaks
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Grace Ackerman
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Thailand position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
National and international disease outbreaks do not only cause undue harm on victims of the disease, but also cause instability on the area the crisis is taking place in. The elimination of disease has always been a precedent for the World Health Organization (WHO). In the past, WHO has depleted Yaws, an infectious disease that disfigures its victims, by 95%, eradicated smallpox between 1967 and 1979, and reduced the number of cases of polio by 99% with a goal to expunge it entirely throughout the world (www.who.org). Although an outbreak may be safely regulated by vaccines and preventative care, there are other secondary concerns that may not be addressed. Outbreaks like these cause the government to use excess money to prevent it from spreading, and for treatment. This also causes a loss in the workforce when people are taken by the disease, affecting society in a social aspect as well as economic. These secondary issues often exacerbate consequences on the region of an outbreak, and create more extensive repercussions on the region than the illness itself. There are multiple diseases that significantly affect Thailand economically and socially including Dengue Fever, Malaria, and diarrheal diseases. Among those Dengue Fever is the most detrimental to the economy and country.
Although Thailand has taken necessary precautions concerning infectious diseases, the secondary effects of disease outbreaks, such as Dengue Fever, is still subject for improvement. Thailand’s largest epidemic was in 1987 with 174,000 cases and 1,007 deaths. Unfortunately, this year there have been 136,000 cases already, and experts say there could be 200,000 by the end of the year. This depleted the work force and weakened the economy. WHO has passed guidelines on how to diagnose, treat, prevent and control Dengue Fever. Since there is no vaccine for Dengue Fever, they try to prevent spreading of Dengue Fever by spraying mosquito killer. Thailand attended a convention intended to update people on aspects of the disease, and to think about the next step in protecting their citizens, and their economy. The ASEAN community has also agreed to join forces against Dengue Fever, they have created the Dengue Day Campaign and Thailand aims to reduce cases by 25%, therefore attempting to replenish the population. Thailand is a part of the following organizations: Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), ANESVAD Foundation, Saint Camillus Foundation, runs Camillian Hospital, Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR), Camillian social center in Rayong, Caritas International Thailand, etc.
Dengue fever has increased this year due to appropriate conditions for mosquitoes to thrive. Thailand has taken steps in an attempt to treat Dengue Fever but this is hard when there is no vaccine or cure. Since breeding conditions are prime for mosquitoes they continue to spray mosquito killer, but it is proving to be insufficient. The increasing number of cases Thailand has joined conventions in the past try to fix pressure that this puts on the economy, as well as the social aspect of society. Thailand encourages other countries to join the fight against Dengue Fever in hopes of a more effective solution to end the labor force decay. By working with other countries and continuing to spread mosquito killer, Thailand hopes to eliminate the number of Dengue Fever cases entirely along with the economic hardships it creates.
