Luna Belza Garcia
Class of 2026Cheltenham, n/a
About
Hi! My name is Luna Belza Garcia and I am currently a first year IB student at Cheltenham Ladies' College, UK. I take higher level Mathematics AA, Biology and Chemistry, standard level English Literature, Economics and French B. I am also an aspiring medical student. Avian influenza, the H5N1 strain in particular, represents a critical intersection of biology, global economics, and public health. Being a highly pathogenic virus with strong zoonotic potential, H5N1 poses not only a serious biological threat, due to its capacity to mutate rapidly and allow for human transmission, but also major economic burden, especially in low and middle income countries, where agriculture and poultry production are crucial to livelihoods and food security in the region. This topic is especially meaningful to me as it is also the focus of my IB Extended Essay (EE). Although my EE has not yet been completed, I have done enough research into the topic to be able to say with certainty that I would thoroughly enjoy a deeper dive into the biological, economic, and medical aspects. However, through my exploration so far, I have developed a deep interest in how diseases like H5N1 affect societies, not just through infection, but also through disruption of economies, global trade, and health. Polygence offers me the perfect opportunity to expand on this foundation, and take my research to a more advanced, interdisciplinary level.Projects
- "Divergent Paths to Containment: Comparing H5N1 Response Strategies in Vietnam and Thailand" with mentor Samir (Working project)
Project Portfolio
Divergent Paths to Containment: Comparing H5N1 Response Strategies in Vietnam and Thailand
Started June 27, 2025
Abstract or project description
Avian influenza H5N1 continues to pose a serious threat to both public health and food systems, especially in regions where poultry farming is deeply embedded in rural life. This study compares the responses of Vietnam and Thailand, two countries that faced major outbreaks in the early 2000s but chose very different strategies. Vietnam implemented widespread poultry vaccination and centralized control programs, while Thailand rejected vaccination and focused on aggressive culling, intensive surveillance, and public engagement. I explore seven core reasons behind these divergent approaches, including differences in trade dependency, farming structures, and access to international funding. The aim isn’t just to describe policy differences, but to understand what influenced them, and what those choices meant for long-term disease control, economic resilience, and public health outcomes. These case studies show that outbreak response isn’t purely technical. It’s shaped by a country’s resources, priorities, and the systems it already has in place. In the context of H5N1’s ongoing re-emergence, especially in low- and middle-income regions, these lessons feel increasingly urgent.