Malaysian Model United Nations
Forum:
Special Conference
Issue:
Developing and implementing more effective strategies to prevent the
spread of pandemic diseases
Student Officer: Aditi Mahesh
Position:
Deputy President of the Special Conference
Introduction
A pandemic takes place when there is a global threat to health due to the rapid and contagious
diffusion of a type bacterium, virus, or a parasite. Transmission is also very easy due to the fact that
humans constantly come in contact with one another. Now in our developing age, a disease found on
one side of the globe can easily be transmitted to the other side in a matter of hours due to developing
communications and transportations like planes and ships.
Definition of Key Terms
Bio-Terrorism
When toxic biological agents are released for the purpose of defense, which can infect a
population that can be carried out by a nation, individual or particular group.
Epidemiological Transition Model (ETM)
The epidemiological transition model (adapted from the demographic transition model) is a graph
widely used my geographers, doctors, and economists, which categorize countries in
developmental stages which show births/deaths and the main reason that causes population
increase or decrease in that specific stage.
Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDC’s)
Such countries are known to be less developed, however are making efforts to modernize and
incorporate new technologies, therefore strengthening the economy. Furthermore, LEDCs can
also be countries that an average income per capita under a 1000$ (when an average citizen
makes less than a 1000 US$ a year) or are classified in the Human Development Index as very
low.
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Microscopy
Research involving the use of a microscope, initially used in 1931, which allowed scientists to see
a virus for the first time (it also showed how it differed from a bacteria).
Background Information
Pandemics and effects on economy
A pandemic of any kind can cause severe social and political disruption. It prevents people from
different countries from physically interacting with each other, causing a decrease in global (temporary)
transportation. Furthermore countries now have a higher expenditure, as they need to spend more for
healthcare. Studies have revealed that countries that are less economically developed (LEDCs) are far
more susceptible to a disease. They also have a greater chance of being a hearth of a global outbreak.
Financially, many ‘third world’ (usually stage 2 of the DTM) countries are struggling to keep up with vast
development and globalization. Therefore they host poor sanitation. Poor sanitation is the root cause for
any kind of pandemic/ epidemic.
Examples of pandemics
Some famous pandemics include: The Plague (also known as the Black Death), Cholera,
Small Pox, and the Spanish Flu. While there have been many other epidemics of the modern
age, such as the Swine Flue (H1N1), these diseases mentioned above have had the highest
death toll.
Diseases have also been used as a weapon of war, this is known as bioterrorism. Using a
bacteria or virus in order to defeat competitors and other nations. Smallpox is an example of a
disease that was used in war. Bioterrorism is used today, however the UN has taken many
actions preventing and condemning such an act.
Prevention
Programs created for control
The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations, and individual nations have
created plans, which educate people of all races, gender, and age around the world about
sanitation. Not only sanitation, but education about unsafe sex, unsafe water, alcohol abuse, and
most importantly hygiene. Also, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) set by the UN talk
about steps that need to be taken within every single country to make sure all have access to
better quality of life. One MDG specifically talks about combating diseases such as HIV/Aids and
malaria. The UN has carried out educational programs educating girls about safe-sex. One such
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program is UNAIDS. International cooperation within member states along with UNAIDS is
strongly encouraged and mentioned in the UN Security Council resolution of 1308.
While the UN has started UNAIDS, WHO has partnered along with UN and have started a
more universal plan for containing pandemics. Plan is as follows: 1) Identifying the virus and
possibility and likelihood of such a virus spreading. 2) Ensuring that WHO has clinical data of
each country. 3) Containment within country if epidemic has been identified. 4) Ensuring all
countries have a plan of action if a pandemic were to occur. 5) Once a vaccine or drug has been
created, ensuring that it is widely available shortly after the breakout. Medicinal technologies involving contagious diseases
There have been vast developments in technology that have helped eradicate many
diseases that contributed to a pandemic. Microscopy was initially used in 1595 by Janssen, which
was used to look at a virus. ‘Vaccine’ technology first invented by Edward Jenner in 1796
(created the vaccine for smallpox using a bit of cowpox) is used today to eradicate and prevent
diseases. The way a vaccine works is, it injects a bit of the disease into your immune system.
Since most diseases are a ‘one-time’ disease, meaning the only can attack a foreign body oncea less intense version of the disease is now inside you, making you free from that particular
disease forever. In 1876, ranges of different needles were created to see which type of needle
would be most effective for specific diseases.
Later on antibiotics was discovered in 1928 by Fleming through an experiment involving
bacteria in a petri dish. He discovered that naturally occurring penicillin killed off the bacteria in
the petri dish. Since then, then anti-biotic technologies have vastly developed. However with
developing technologies come its repercussions. Because of anti-biotic abuse and misuses on
the human body by patients viruses, bacteria and parasites over time become resistant to such
antibiotics. Because of this, they are stronger and keep reproducing the disease causing
widespread diffusion. This was seen in malaria a few years ago where a drug was used to kill the
plasmodium parasite within the mosquito. Overtime the parasite became resistant causing more
cases of malaria in total.
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Timeline of Events
1340
The first Bubonic Plague or Black Death
1595
First Microscope Invented by Zacharias Janssen
1796
First vaccine created by Edward Jenner
June 17, 1894
First Polio Epidemic in the US
June 1, 1902
Biologics Control Act, Regulating the sale of toxins, viruses, and serums
April 10, 1972
Biological Weapons Convention was created
April 15, 2009
H1N1 (swine-flu) outbreak
March 3 2014
South-East Asia is Polio Free
UN Involvement, Relevant Resolutions, Treaties and Events
There has been a lot of UN involvement along with the World Health Organization (WHO) to plan
strategically to avoid disease outbreaks (e.g. UNAIDS). Furthermore after the establishment of the
MDG’s, countries have become much more responsible and are working very hard to meet this
requirements. The UN believes that education and prevention are the key steps necessary in stopping
the spread of a disease from the root. The UN has started its UN-Influenza program that tracks
spreading diseases using surveillance prevention.
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), a multilateral disarmament treaty that bans the use
of biological weapons as a whole. Biological weapons (essentially bacteria, viruses, neurotoxins,
cytotoxins and other harmful pathogens) can be used for lethal purposes like destroying a population.
This convention prevents the production, development and stockpiling of these weapons. Resolutions
regarding disease control and pandemics include:
•
HIV/AIDS and International Peacekeeping Operations, 17th July 2000 (1308)
•
Global Health and foreign policy, 10th February 2011 (65/218)
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Bibliography
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