Topic: 2024-Spread of Animal Viruses
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Lee Gerring
Delegate: Lee Gerring
Committee: WHO
Topic: Spread of Animal Viruses
Country: Germany
School: Williamston High School
Ever since the start of life on Earth, disease has been prevalent in many forms. Zoonotic diseases are not an exception with their effect of massive harm to human life. Diseases such as Ebola and the Bird Flu were diseases that had originally started in animals and eventually spread to humans as the animals continued to come in contact with them. This led to major outbreaks and loss of life, along with major economic losses as well. Not only do people’s lives get harmed by these illnesses but their careers do as well, if an animal on a farm contracted a disease such as Ebola then not only would the farmer have to kill and discard of the animal because it’s meat could no long be sold, they would also have to worry about potential contraction to their other animals which would continue to hurt the farmer in this cycle. Over time many vaccines and further precautions have been put in place to combat the spread and contraction of these zoonotic diseases to help lessen their spread and help save an immense amount of lives.
Germany has taken several measures to prevent the spread of animal viruses between both humans and other animals. In 2012, Germany had taken action by adopting The “General Administrative Regulation for Zoonoses in the Food Production Chain.” This works to regulate the surveillance of zoonoses and zoonotic pathogens, surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among zoonotic pathogens and exchange of information related to zoonotic diseases. Along with that the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment draw up a Zoonoses Sampling Plan every year to identify the risks of zoonotic disease. This yearly plan contains specific standards about the zoonotic agents to be tested for, which animal populations need to be monitored, and what stages of the food chain need to be monitored. Germany also worked to adopt and establish the 2014 Animal Health Act which aims to prevent and control animal diseases with a focus on minimizing the risk of zoonotic diseases to human health. It outlines general duties of animal owners, such as the obligation to report dangerous diseases to the authorities. Much of Germany’s livestock is also affected by the spread of disease such as Bluetongue. This is a disease that greatly affects the livelihoods of animals, especially around Europe. Quickly this disease had action taken against it with vaccines being developed that Germany quickly accepted to lessen the outbreak.
Germany plans to keep its current policy on animal viruses after having seen great development on stopping zoonotic diseases after its policies were put in place. This doesn’t mean that Germany isn’t open to strengthening it’s policy as means to further improve the lives of livestock and citizens, or even helping other countries establish their own policy as means to fight back against spreading disease. Aside from the countries within the European Union, Germany finds a good ally in the United States of America as a means to help with this mission.
