Simulation exercise: Foot and mouth disease in Australia-13

4 to 7 May

Dr Mark Schipp, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Canberra, Australia, has informed the OIE that a simulation exercise on foot and mouth disease, Exercise Slapstick, will take place in Queensland from 4 to7 May 2015.

The simulation exercise will be based on a foot-and-mouth disease scenario, and will involve the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the National Rapid Response Team (RRT) and participants from Queensland livestock industries. The Department of Agriculture and Animal Health Australia will assist with coordination of the exercise.

The overall aim of the exercise is to practise the application of draft foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination strategy, policy and procedures in a simulated operational setting for a specific scenario in the Australian state of Queensland.

Specific objectives are to:

 a) Consider the following in order to validate and/or identify gaps:

i)   Queensland vaccination strategy for a specific scenario in South East Queensland
ii)  Relevant national vaccination policy
iii) Relevant procedures (national and jurisdictional)

b) Identify logistical and operational issues with respect to vaccine in a regional area.

c) Increase RRT knowledge of the planning and resource needs of the vaccination component of an FMD response.

The exercise will include discussion and field activities but no control centres will be activated.

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