Simulation exercise: New world screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) in Panama-3

Dr Rolando Arturo Tello Jaramillo, National Director of Animal Health of the Ministry of Agricultural Development, Panama, informed the OIE that a simulation exercise on new world screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) denominated “4to Simulacro Nacional y Primero Regional de Emergencia por Miasis de GBD”  will take place from 20 to 23 May 2019 in the Panama district, Province of Panama with the participation of member countries from OIRSA* and Colombia.

The objectives of this exercise, organized by the Panama – USA Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of screwworm (COPEG) are to:

• Assess the Contingency Plan for the new world screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) and train the personnel for its implementation.
• Verify the response arrangements to new world screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) emergency situations.
• Review the liaisons and interdependencies between internal key operational participants and other related insitutions.
• Analyse the impact of an outbreak of new world screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) on the livestock sector and how it could affect it.

The simulation exercise will include theoretical and field activities, fly trappings and setting up of pens to control animal movements.

The fieldwork exercise will be carried out in farms located in the municipalities of Pacora, San Martín and 24 de Diciembre in the province of Panama.

_{*OIRSA: Organismo internacional regional de sanidad agropecuaria (Regional International Organization for Plant Protection and Animal Health)}

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