Simulation exercise: Foot and mouth disease in New Zealand-6

Dr Matthew Stone, Director Animal and Animal Products, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) of New Zealand, Wellington, informed the OIE that two simulation exercises to test aspects of the Foot and mouth disease (FMD) Readiness Programme will take place in New Zealand from 27 to 29 October 2015.

The Response Epidemiology Team based at MPI’s Investigation and Diagnostic Centre, Wallaceville, will be undertaking a desk-top exercise to simulate standardised analysis and reporting of a hypothetical FMD outbreak in New Zealand.

Separately, the New Zealand National Biosecurity Capability Network will be holding a FMD training exercise in Auckland involving approximately 140 people, including members of the public trained in specific roles and farmers.

The functions exercised will include risk analysis, planning, logistics, tracing, permitting, perimeter controls for infected zones, and infected place coordination.

These activities are part of an on-going programme of targeted exercises within the overall New Zealand Biosecurity Readiness work programme.

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