Topic: 2024-Spread of Animal Viruses
Country: Peru
Delegate Name: Margaret Leahy
Country: Peru
Committee: WHO
Topic: The Spread of Animal Viruses
Delegate: Margaret Leahy
School: Williamston High School
The spread of animal viruses is critical to the entirety of the world and it is clear that animal viruses need to be taken seriously. The World Health Organization (WHO) even stated that there will inevitably be more pandemics in the future if the United Nations are not proactive about the possible zoonotic (animal borne diseases) threats to our countries. Recently, the importance of taking safety measures to ensure that more global pandemics do not occur is extremely important. As of now about 7 million people died because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is about a 30 percent chance that there will be another pandemic in the next decade. Not only did the Coronavirus scar people’s health, but it took a toll on the public’s mental health. There was about a 25 percent increase in anxiety and depression worldwide during COVID-19. Furthermore, rabies kills 70,000 people worldwide, every year, 99 percent of those are from dogs. Even though we have had good vaccines for rabies for over a century, there are still limited public health resources.
Peru’s most recent outbreak of the avian influenza has killed an estimated amount of thirty thousand animals between 2022 and 2023. This is concerning since avian influenza is very prevalent in Peru and Chile. This influenza is also very concerning because if more poultry are infected, it could lead to a huge shortage of chicken and eggs, which is a big industry in Peru. Also, rabies is a threat to people living in rural areas. In Peru, domestic dogs and bats (especially in the Amazon region) are often the biggest transmission of rabies. Another zoonotic disease common in Peru is leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), it can be found in places where there is heavy rainfall, the Amazon basin, or uncontaminated water sources. Outbreaks can occur in rural and in urban areas. Humans most likely come into contact with it from direct contact with urine or contaminated water or soil. Symptoms sometimes appear as flu-like and then get progressively worse. These zoonotic diseases are a hardship on Peru agricultural and on public health. Resources to rural areas are concerning and vaccinations for rabies and other animal viruses are still low. Being proactive about the concern of zoonotic viruses as necessary for future generations.
Peru strives to have public awareness campaigns as well as local aid to rural and urban areas to prevent future rabies and leptospirosis. Getting vaccinations to areas in need is essential to preventing outbreaks in the future. By administering care in rural areas, there is less opportunity for zoonotic diseases to spread. People with jobs that require close contact with animals should be aware of the possible ways diseases could spread, especially with taking care of animal feces. Public awareness is key to making sure people do not come into contact with rabid dogs or unsanitary conditions. Measures should be taken to get clean water sources so leptospirosis does not spread through contaminated water. This is vital for controlling the spread of Weil’s disease. Planning and prevention for outbreaks is very important to make sure animal viruses do not spread so worldwide pandemics do not transpire is crucial to the coming times ahead of us. Peru would love to collaborate with other countries who feel the same way.
