WHO Background Guide
Model United Nations Association
September 20, 2014
Ebola Virus Outbreak
History of the World Health
Organisation
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is the
organisation in the United Nations (UN) system
charged with coordinating and directing health.
The origins of WHO can be traced back to the
International Sanitary Conference, which was
the first major meeting that discussed public
health on an international level, held in Paris in
1851. While the topics discussed at this initial
conference were quite narrow, it was the
foundation for the WHO. Following the creation
of the UN, representatives of 51 Member States attended the International Health Conference
in 1946 and approved the constitution of the WHO. The constitution did not enter into force
until two years later on 7 April 1948. World Health Day is now observed annually on the 7th of
April in commemoration. The WHO is a specialized agency, addressed in Article 57 of the
Charter of the United Nations which states, “the various specialised agencies, established by
intergovernmental agreement and having wide international responsibilities, as defined in their
basic instruments, in economic, social cultural, educational, health and related fields, shall be
brought into relationship with the United Nations.” This means, as the UN agency responsible
for health, WHO is represented within the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the
General Assembly. WHO reports to ECOSOC, as ECOSOC is the body empowered to coordinate
specialized agencies.
The main body of WHO is the World Health Assembly (WHA), which consists of the
representatives from the 194 UN Member States. WHA is the main decision-making body of
WHO and focuses on specific topics recommended by the Executive Board. Representatives to
WHA are generally high-ranking officials from their respective ministries or departments of
health, providing a high-level of technical and specialized knowledge to the organisation. The
Executive Board (EB), in contrast, consists of 34 highly trained and qualified representatives
elected from the Member States. The primary role of this board is to advise and facilitate the
work of WHA. WHA and EB provide guidance to the organisation as a whole, but day-to-day
operations are undertaken at WHO headquarters, regional offices, and country offices.
The WHO consists of headquarters in Geneva, six regional offices, and over 150 country offices.
Each level of representation covers a specific geographic area and allows WHO to provide
technical advice at all levels. At the headquarters, the Director General, Dr. Margaret Chan,
leads WHO, which provides guidance through seven thematic areas, each led by an Assistant
Director-General. WHO provides much of its support through the country level offices as they
have strong relationships with the health apparatus in the respective Member States. The role
of the WHO has changed over time, with the WHO implementing programs in the first two
decades, including a push to eradicate malaria. Although the WHO no longer implements
programs in Member States, the WHO does implement broader programming efforts at the
headquarters and regional levels, while also providing an advisory role to Member States and
other organisations on matters of health.
Physical Manifestations of Ebola
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was first documented in 1976 through two simultaneous outbreaks in
the Democratic Republic of Congo near the Ebola River, from which the virus derives its name,
as well as in Sudan. The virus is extremely fatal, resulting in death for approximately 90% of
those infected. Genus ebolavirus is one of three ‘members’ of the filovirus family and has five
different species/strands:
-
Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV)
Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV)
Reston ebolavirus (RESTV)
Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV)
Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV)
The BDBV, EBOV, and SUDV have been responsible for the fatal outbreaks within Africa, while
the RESTV species (often seen in the Philippines and in China), have infected humans, but have
not resulted in documented illness or death.1
Transmission
Ebola is transmitted from human to human by close contact with bodily fluids, such as blood
and semen, or infected animals. Men who have been infected with the disease and survive can
still transmit Ebola through their semen up to seven weeks after recovering. Within Africa,
acute levels of transmissions are recorded due to handling ill or deceased chimpanzees, gorillas,
fruit bats, monkeys, antelope, and porcupines found within the rainforest.
The incubation period of Ebola (from infection to showing signs of symptoms) is between 2-21
days. Symptoms generally show themselves as a sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain,
1
For workers who have been in contact with animals carrying RESTV, several infections have been documented in
people who were clinically asymptomatic showing that RESTV appears to be less capable of causing disease in
humans than other Ebola species. However, the only available evidence has been exclusively taken from healthy
adult males, and therefore it would be premature to make conclusions about RESTV for all population groups
including those immunocompromised persons (those with a low immune system), persons with underlying medical
conditions, pregnant women, and children. More tests and studies are needed in order to make definitive
conclusions about RESTV.
headache and sore throat. As the virus intensifies, the infected person will experience vomiting,
diarrhea, rashes, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, internal and external
bleeding. A person is deemed infectious as long as they show symptoms of the virus. Various
testing methods exist to diagnose the disease; however, obtaining samples is considered an
extreme biohazard risk and must be conducted under maximum biological containment
conditions.
Vaccines and Treatment
As of September 2014, there is no known ‘cure’ or vaccine for Ebola. There are numerous
vaccines that are being clinically tested, including a Canadian made vaccine, which may be
approved for use before the end of the year. Results from safety studies conducted on humans
in the latter half of September will be available come November. If these results are positive,
the vaccines will then be sent in waves to front line health workers and staff in Africa, according
to a prioritisation plan created by WHO earlier this year. According to WHO, bypassing vaccine
development protocols is without precedent.
In terms of treatment, WHO recommends that countries addressing viral outbreaks should be
assisted in offering patients transfusions of whole blood, plasma, or ‘convalescent serum’
produced from the blood of those who have survived the virus. This treatment has been
deemed very effective by doctors.
Prevention and Reducing the Risk of Transmission
In the absence of effective treatment and a human vaccine, raising awareness of the risk
factors for Ebola infection and the protective measures individuals can take is the only way
to reduce human infection and death.



In Africa, during EVD outbreaks, educational public health messages for risk reduction should
focus on several factors:
Reducing the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission from contact with infected fruit bats or
monkeys/apes and the consumption of their raw meat. Animals should be handled with
gloves and other appropriate protective clothing. Animal products (blood and meat) should
be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
Reducing the risk of human-to-human transmission in the community arising from direct or
close contact with infected patients, particularly with their bodily fluids. Close physical
contact with Ebola patients should be avoided. Gloves and appropriate personal protective
equipment should be worn when taking care of ill patients at home. Regular hand washing is
required after visiting patients in hospital, as well as after taking care of patients at home.
Communities affected by Ebola should inform the population about the nature of the
disease and about outbreak containment measures, including burial of the dead. People
who have died from Ebola should be promptly and safely buried.
It is not always possible to identify patients with EBV early because initial symptoms may be
non-specific. For this reason, it is important that health-care workers apply standard
precautions consistently with all patients – regardless of their diagnosis – in all work
practices at all times. These include basic hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, the use of
personal protective equipment (according to the risk of splashes or other contact with
infected materials), safe injection practices and safe burial practices.
Migration and Spread of Ebola
Ebola does not spread via water or air and is thus only transmitted through person-to-person or
animal-to-person contact, with dead bodies being much more contagious. These human or
animal carriers are migrating over borders, and due to globalisation and increased crowding in
cities, they can effectively spread the virus faster and farther into countries and regions who
would otherwise not see the virus. Risks also lie with those who leave infected dead bodies to
rot in their community. In one such case, fear of burying 19 bodies led to an outbreak of 35
more cases a few days later.
2014 Outbreak
It is believed that the first case of the 2014 outbreak started in Guinea when a 2 year old boy
died on December 6, 2013 and infected his family. The transmission of the disease then spread
to neighbouring villages. The unknown viral hemorrhage fever was determined to be Ebola by
the WHO on March 25th, and rapidly began to spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone by late March
and early April. By August 29th, a case had been confirmed in Senegal. As of September, the
disease has been confined to Western Africa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has also
experienced an unrelated Ebola outbreak of the EBOV strain. However, the CDC (the Centre for
Disease Control and Prevention) warns that the virus could spread beyond these areas. Open
borders and air travel, and a long incubation period mean that Ebola has the potential to spread
across the world rapidly and undetected.
Country Blocs and Their Roles in the Outbreak
Rich Developed Nations (Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia,
etc.) These nations are known for investing into research and sending trained personnel to hot
zones where the outbreak is rampant. The vaccines that are being pushed through the testing
stages all hail from developed nations. Besides testing and sending medical personnel (doctors,
nurses, etc.) to outbreak zones, these countries may decide to offer medical supplies. These
nations will be affected, if at all, by open borders, ship cargo, and air travel from infected areas.
Delegates should focus their attention on creating at-home precautionary plans in case of a
potential outbreak (isolation wards for those who show symptoms and those traveling from
infected areas), vaccine research (and potential distribution plans if tests are successful),
awareness campaigns, sending medical personnel and supplies to infected areas, and listening
to nations whose countries are experiencing an outbreak.
Developing Nations (India, China, Brazil, etc.) These nations, often with large populations and
large pockets of poverty, should focus on containment plans (such as isolation wards) and
tracking those who have recently travelled to infected areas. While not as rich as Developed
nations such as the United States, delegates may still offer to participate in sending
experienced personnel to infected nations (medical, engineers etc.), and supplies to West
Africa.
Affected Countries & Those With Proximal Closeness (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone,
Senegal, DRC, etc.) These nations are already affected or are on the verge of being affected. As
they are poor, the limited resources they have are already stretched to the limit. Delegates
should focus on containment and awareness for the disease and ask for help from developed
nations for trained medical personnel, supplies, money, etc. Many native medical personnel in
these countries lack the knowledge of how to deal with the growing outbreak, and thus need
quick and effective training to help curb the rise of infected persons. Remote areas often do not
even have running water or soap to help disinfect themselves. Moreover, nations like Guinea
have already experienced discontent and riots from citizens due to attempted containment and
disinfectant methods. Therefore, delegates should understand the public consequences of the
actions they make in committee.
Rules and Procedure
Point of Personal Privilege*: You may raise this to address a concern over the committee
environment that is severely impeding your ability to participate. For example, this may include
technical issues, inability to hear the speaker, or physical discomfort.
Point of Order*: You may raise this to complain of improper parliamentary procedure from the
dais or another delegate.
Right of Reply*: If you feel your national dignity has been insulted or been personally offended
by a speaker’s remark, you may rise on this right. If the dais acknowledges your right to a reply,
you will be immediately given an opportunity to address the offending remarks. Some
conferences encourage you to write a note up to the dais instead, however, explaining why you
feel you merit a right of reply to prevent interrupting the debate.
Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: If you have a question regarding the rules or procedures, or are
uncertain of what is going on, you may ask a question for clarification.
Motion for Adjournment of Meeting: This motion may be raised to end the committee session
for the remainder of the entire conference. Do not raise this motion until the end of the last
scheduled committee session.
Motion for Suspension of the Meeting: This motion may be raised to end the committee
session until the next scheduled meeting. The dais will rule this out of order if this motion is
raised prematurely.
Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus: See next section for information on unmoderated
caucuses. You must specify the duration of the unmoderated caucus when raising this motion.
Motion for a Moderated Caucus: See next section for information on moderated caucuses. You
must specify the topic, duration, and speaking time for the caucus when raising this motion.
Note: Points marked with an asterisk (*) may interrupt a speaker.
Think twice before interrupting as it is considered rude and frowned
upon unless for the most urgent of circumstances!
Commonly Used Preambulatory Clauses
Affirming
Having considered
Alarmed by
Having considered further
Approving
Having denoted attention
Aware of
Having examined
Believing
Having heard
Bearing in mind
Having received
Confident
Having studied
Contemplating
Keeping in mind
Convinced
Noting
Declaring
Noting with approval
Deeply concerned
Noting with deep concern
Deeply conscious
Noting with regret
Deeply convinced
Noting with satisfaction
Deeply disturbed
Observing
Deeply regretting
Realizing
Desiring
Reaffirming
Emphasizing
Recalling
Expressing its appreciation
Recognizing
Expressing its satisfaction
Referring
Fulfilling
Recalling
Fully aware
Seeking
Fully believing
Taking into account
Further deploring
Taking into consideration
Further noting
Taking note
Further recalling
Viewing with appreciation
Guided by
Welcoming
Having adopted
Commonly Used Operative Clauses
Accepts
Recommends
Affirms
Reminds
Approves
Regrets
Authorizes
Requests
Calls
Solemnly affirms
Calls for
Strongly condemns
Condemns*
Supports
Congratulates
Trusts
Confirms
Takes note of
Considers
Transmits
Declares accordingly
Urges
Deplores
* May only be used by the
Demands*
Security Council
Designates
Draws the attention
Emphasizes
Encourages
Endorses
Expresses its appreciation
Expresses its hope
Further invites
Further proclaims
Have resolved
Notes
Proclaims
Reaffirms