Simulation exercise: Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Singapore

Dr Chua Sin Bin, Chief Veterinary Officer, Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore, has informed us that his country is free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and that a simulation exercise on HPAI called “Exercice Gallus 3 (EX Gallus 3)” will take place in his country on 3 September 2004.

“EX Gallus 3” will test the AVA’s crisis management in dealing with a situation where HPAI is detected in imported poultry.

More specifically, the objectives of “EX Gallus 3” are to test:

• the effectiveness of equipping large numbers of persons with appropriate personnel protection for rapid deployment during an operation;
• AVA’s operational handling of imported cases of HPAI detected at the checkpoint; and the logistics system to handle the outbreak;
• aspects of the process of personnel decontamination.

“EX Gallus 3” will be conducted at designated sites identified for handling imported cases of HPAI detected at the checkpoint. There will be no involvement of live poultry in this exercise.

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Animal Health Information Department
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
information.dept@oie.int