Forum: World Health Organization Question of: Protocol for Pandemic Diseases Submitted by: The Islamic Republic of Iran Signatories: The People’s Republic of China, Canada, The Republic of India, Kingdom of Norway, The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, The Arab Republic of Egypt, State of Israel, Republic of Niger
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, Acknowledging that pandemic diseases are the of the greatest threat to public health in the global environment, Noting with concern that some pandemic diseases with high mortality rates have devastated countries repeatedly, especially developing countries lacking significant infrastructure for sanitation, Understands the need for the improvement of the International Health Regulations (IHR) by improving upon existing protocols, Concerned with the increasing risk that public health issues possess towards the stability of the global community by challenging international relations and security, Encourages increased cooperation between pharmaceutical companies, the WHO, governments and intergovernmental organizations to achieve more timely responses to outbreaks of pandemic diseases, Stresses the importance of maintaining central tracking and surveillance systems at all times, Emphasizing the need for developed countries to assist developing countries in preventing pandemics, and providing the resources to control outbreaks of pandemic diseases, Keeping in mind that the full disclosure of information during the outbreak of pandemic diseases may cause panic in civilian populations, Reaffirms the International Health Regulation of 2005, as it was effective during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, 1. Calls for the establishment of a United Nations Aid Classification System (UNACS), where member states are classified by their economic status, according to the following criteria:
a) Class 1 countries will consist of developed countries, which have the economic ability to provide large quantities of aid to other countries in a pandemic crisis, and will have the following obligations: i) To provide aid to Class 2 and Class 3 countries when affected by a serious pandemic outbreak, including but not limited to: a) Pharmaceutical resources, for example, drugs and vaccines for a disease; b) Medical personnel; ii) To annually contribute 1 percent of their Real Gross Domestic Product to the Pandemic Crisis Fund of the World Health Organisation (PCFWHO), which is to be established; b) Class 2 countries will consist of countries that are semideveloped, but do not have the economic ability to provide large quantities of aid, and will have the following obligations, but do not have the obligation to contribute to the PCFWHO annually: i) To provide aid to Class 3 countries when affected by a serious pandemic outbreak; c) Class 3 countries will consist of developing countries that are not covered by Classes 1 and 2, and do not have any obligations, except those that apply to all member states; d) All member states are obligated to make available to the WHO and other member states all scientific research regarding pandemic diseases, and any intelligence pertaining to the status of pandemic diseases in their country, including but not limited to: i) Any research regarding drugs and vaccines for the treatment of pandemic diseases; ii) Any data pertaining to the mortality rates and spreading of diseases; 2. Establishes the Pandemic Crisis Fund of the World Health Organisation, which will provide emergency funds to countries in need of aid, and aid will be distributed according to the following: a) All aid distribution must be approved by a majority vote in the World Health Organisation, and all member states will have a single vote in each matter; b) Aid distribution can only occur when there is a Level 1 or above outbreak (refer to clause 3);
c) WHO monitors must be dispatched to monitor the situation at all aid recipient countries to ensure all aid is appropriately used; 3. Suggests a new system for the categorization of pandemics and endemics, with recommendations for different levels of responses, considering lethality, contagiousness and the size of the region affected, with four levels of pandemic outbreaks: a) A Level 1 Pandemic is defined as an outbreak localised in a single country, affecting a significant proportion of the population in that country, and is possibly fatal to infected persons, requiring a regional responses, such as, but not limited to: i) providing the affected country with medicinal supplies, if the affected country does not have the necessary drugs or does not have the resources to obtain these drugs in a timely manner; ii) increasing the rigour of quarantine measures at borders to neighbouring countries, to prevent the further spread of disease; iii) increasing the level of surveillance of the pandemic outbreak, such that the pandemic does not spread beyond the country’s borders; b) A Level 2 Pandemic is defined as a regional outbreak, affecting more than one country in a geographical region, or an outbreak that affects a large proportion of the population in a region, and is likely to be fatal to a large proportion of these infected people, requiring an international response, including measures such as, but not limited to: i) all measures listed for a Level 1 Pandemic; ii) the provision of international aid in the form of drugs, medical equipment and experienced medical personnel; iii) the suspension of all nonessential travel to and from affect countries; iv) the destruction of infected livestock; v) the reduction of insect and rodent populations through the use of insecticide and rodenticide;
c) A Level 3 Pandemic is defined as a continental outbreak, which is likely to affect or be fatal to a significant proportion of the population of a continent, requiring a global response, with measures such as, but not limited to: i) all measures listed for a Level 2 Pandemic; ii) the use of more stringent quarantine measures, such as the quarantine of infected people to a certain area, to prevent further spread to the uninfected portions of the population; iii) the destruction of all infected human remains by means of mass cremations, to prevent spread of the disease from corpses; iv) the destruction of all livestock and animal populations; v) the implementation of martial law to prevent rioting and maintain public order; vi) the prohibition of all international travel; d) A Level 4 Pandemic is defined as a global outbreak, which is likely to affect or be fatal to a significant proportion of the global population, and where the survival of the human species is at risk, requiring a massive global response, and the cooperation of all remaining governments, with measures such as, but not limited to: i) all measures listed for a Level 3 Pandemic; ii) the destruction of all infected human populations through the use of military force; iii) the use of incendiary weapons to sanitise infected cities and towns, and to remove infected human populations in these areas by means of carpet bombing; iv) the movement of all surviving and uninfected human populations to an unaffected area; 4. Suggests a system for transparency regarding pandemic/endemic outbreaks with 2 levels of classification, with recommendations as to disclosure of sensitive data and information regarding the pandemic: a) Level 1: A category 1 or 2 pandemic outbreak (refer to clause 2):
i) complete transparency as to mortality rates, actions taken by the government, et cetera; ii) advise all people to stay in their homes and avoid public contact; b) Level 2: A Category 3 or 4 pandemic outbreak (refer to clause 2): i) the government should withhold certain information to prevent mass panic, such as mortality rates, military actions, et cetera; ii) give recommendations to the public about avoiding the transmission of disease, and to stay away from infected areas as much as possible; 5. Requests that all member states keep open lines of communication with regards to the spread of pandemic diseases, and that all information regarding the following be shared with other member states and the World Health Organisation: a) Any developing pandemics in the region; b) Any developments in the technology involved in the prevention of pandemic diseases; c) Any actions that have been taken against the spread of pandemic diseases in the region; 6. Decides to remain actively seized on the matter.