Topic: 2024-Spread of Animal Viruses
Country: France
Delegate Name: Ryland Ogrodowski
Committee: (WHO) World Health Organization
Topic: The Spread of Animal Viruses
Delegate: Ryland Ogrodowski
School: Riverview Jr/Sr High School
Country: France
One of the greatest healthcare issues affecting our world is the ongoing spread of animal viruses. The spread of these infectious diseases has caused millions of deaths and an immediate need for action to slow the spread of animal viruses. Some of the most common diseases are chickenpox, measles, influenza, HIV and herpes. Recently, one of the viruses that has increased by a rapid amount is the spread of avian influenza (Sun). After COVID-19, an outbreak occurred from 2018-2022 (Sun). Leading towards conducted, particularly fowl infections, human infections, and sequence alterations (Sun). Now it has also been detected that climate change is a major factor with the increase in infectious viruses (Carlson). By the year 2070 it has been determined that this spread of zoonotic viruses will be apparent if our effect on climate change continues negatively (Climate). Some of these diseases can be prevented through vaccination, but others are still being searched for a cure (Zoonoses). Now the WHO and WOAH (World Orginisation for Animal Health) are working diligently to slow the rapid spread of these viruses within our world due to vulnerability from COVID-19 and the ongoing issues of climate change.
Many of the countries in Europe including the country of France are dealing with many of these animal diseases. The last outbreak was in 2020-2021 (Multiple). Where many underwent the disease of avian influenza H5 viruses, most in France belonging to the H5N8 subtype genotype for the disease (Multiple). More than 1800 were bird influenced cases, and 800 were poultry caused throughout all of Europe (Multiple). To end this crisis, the Delegation of France took tracheal and cloacal swabs for each suspected case of HPAI in wild or domestic birds (Multiple). Tracking down the cause to be from birds in a Pet Store in Southern France (Multiple). In the end, finding the cause of this outbreak was linked to an increased virus in high-density duck farming (Multiple). After this event the avian outbreak viruses, France increased security and safety on monitoring the spread of influenza strands (Multiple). Noting that this impact on birds and poultry negatively affects the economy towards the country. Therefore, leading France to be a country willing to contribute whatever means necessary to take to end this spread to economically and healthcare wise keep countries safe.
After dealing with this ongoing spread the Delegation of France proposes various ideas on how we can track the spreading and maintain proper healthcare amongst civilians. First the Delegation of France already works with monitoring the spread of these viruses through swabs and comparing the swabs towards animals and their genotypes to the virus in different regions of the country. To determine what areas of the country have had their birds/poultry impacted by avian influenza. Therefore, the Delegation of France proposes the establishment of UN run facilities. Specifically run as a hospital, treatment center, and laboratory for zoonotic viruses. These facilities will be run and funded by the WHO to ensure equality in healthcare amongst all UN countries, including third world countries in need of higher healthcare services. As well as teaming up with organizations such as the Red Cross and specific zoonotic research organizations such as the National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza. This would allow funding towards these centers and equality within the facilities by being run under organizations. In these facilities there will be hospital areas for people undergoing viral infections caused by the spread of zoonotic viruses. Having medical professionals that volunteer to work within these buildings. There will be also a treatment center. This area will be providing the vaccinations necessary to combat these viruses. So, if an individual struggles to reach the healthcare they need
to receive vaccination for a zoonotic virus that has been cured, such as rabies, they can come to these centers provided and receive their vaccination there. This will also be done under doctors/nurses that volunteer. As well with having their vaccination history provided to their healthcare providers as vaccination history is an important document to look after. Lastly these establishments will have laboratories/research centers to ensure the safety and enforcement of tracking down causes of these viruses. As of now countries, including France, take swabs of infections and have them processed and if positive for a strand of zoonotic virus, then they are traced to the animal carrying that strand. In these hospitals there will be samples taken every two months from the common zoonotic animals of the region to keep and compare to the swabs taken for if an outbreak occurs. Then we can diligently trace where these viruses are emerging from and how they can be contained and stopped before further infection. This plan to establish these centers can be named the UNZCP (United Nations Zoonotic Centers Plan) combating these diseases through the research and healthcare provided. The centers can have also a once-a-year committee. Where they send a representative for their country and therefore the countries of the UN under these centers can share ideas and information to help other countries combat this issue together. Inevitably being able to slow and control the spread of zoonotic viruses.
Citations:
Carlson, C.J. “Climate Change Increases Cross-species Viral Transmission Risk.” Nature, 28 Apr. 2022, www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04788-w. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.
“Climate Change Will Result in New Viruses and Risk of New Diseases, Says Study.” PBS, 28 Apr. 2022, www.pbs.org/newshour/science/climate-change-will-result-in-new-viruses-and-risk-of-new-diseases-says-study. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.
“Multiple Independent Introductions of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Viruses during the 2020–2021 Epizootic in France.” National Library of Medicine, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10092607/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
Sun, Yanxia. “High Activity Levels of Avian Influenza Upwards 2018–2022: A Global Epidemiological Overview of Fowl and Human Infections.” Elseiver, 23 Jun. 2023, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771423000319. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.
“Zoonoses.” United Nations, 29 Jul. 2020, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/zoonoses. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
