Simulation exercise: Foot and mouth disease in Australia-17

Dr Mark Schipp, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Canberra, Australia, informed the OIE that two (2) simulation exercises: Exercise Dragonglass and Exercise Obsidian, will take place in Australia, with exercise-related activities commencing on 8 January 2018 and concluding around 16 February 2018.

The aim of Exercise Dragonglass is to test the arrangements for supply and distribution of simulated Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine and vaccination equipment from the suppliers to a designated vaccine centre (DVC) in Queensland, Australia. The aim of Exercise Obsidian is to test the arrangements for supply and distribution of simulated FMD vaccine and vaccination equipment from the Queensland DVC to the producer level (i.e. farm gate).

Participants in the exercise include the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Animal Health Australia, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Merial (now part of Boehringer-Ingelheim).

Activities will include assessment of documentation, timelines and maintenance of cold chain for importation and distribution of FMD vaccine from Australia’s vaccine bank in the United Kingdom to farm level in Queensland, Australia. While a simulated consignment will be imported into Australia in February 2018 to test cold chain maintenance, this consignment will not contain FMD antigen or vaccine, and no animals will be vaccinated.

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