Simulation exercise: Aquatic emergency animal disease in Australia

Dr Mark Schipp, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Canberra, Australia, informed the OIE that a simulation exercise on an aquatic emergency animal disease, Exercise Fintan, will take place in Tasmania from 8 to 11 May 2017.

The simulation exercise will be based on an abalone viral ganglioneuritis disease scenario, and will involve the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Animal Health Australia, the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the National Rapid Response Team (RRT). The RRT is a team of experienced emergency animal disease response personnel from all jurisdictions of Australia, who would fill key management positions in control centres in the event of an outbreak response.

The aim of the exercise is for RRT members to explore response arrangements, and potential challenges, in a biosecurity incident involving an aquatic emergency animal disease.

This discussion exercise will be held in Launceston, Tasmania, with field visits to aquaculture premises – no control centres will be established.

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World Animal Health Information and Analysis Department
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
[email protected]