Simulation exercise: Avian influenza, African swine fever and classical swine fever in Costa Rica

Dr Bernardo Jaén Hernández, Director General of National Service for Animal Health (SENASA), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica, informed the OIE that a simulation exercise on avian influenza (AI), African swine fever (ASF) and classical swine fever (CSF) is taking place in Ochomogo de Cartago located in the centre of Costa Rica, from19 to 22 August 2019.

Public and private sector will participate in the simulation exercise as they are involved in managing health emergency.

The objectives of this simulation exercise are to:

• Evaluate the response capacities when facing emergencies following occurrence of AI, ASF and CSF, while testing the chain of command and the health regulation in force for that purpose.
• Proceed to sampling and animal necropsy as well as put into practice the personnel biosecurity measures.
• Review and test surveillance protocols, contingency plans, as well as control and eradication measures, with a view to identifying improvements that could be made in the plans, instructions, legislation, structures and procedures for AI, ASF and CSF.
• Assess the organizational structure and responsibilities of those involved in the timely and effective handling of a health emergency due to the occurrence of an outbreak of an exotic disease in Costa Rica.
• Improve the capacity of SENASA, veterinarians and technicians, as well as others involved in the handling of an outbreak of an exotic disease, focusing on procedures for the notification handling, the control and containment of the problem.
• Evaluate the cooperation and coordination between Veterinary Services, other public bodies and the private sector, in response to a health emergency.

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