Simulation exercise: African swine fever in Italy-2

Dr. Silvio Borrello, Chief Veterinary Officer, Italian Ministry of Health, hereby informs the OIE that a field simulation exercise on African swine fever (ASF) named “ASFriuli”, will take place on 14 and 15 November 2018 in Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia region where local disease control centres will be set up.

The overall aim of this exercise, which will be conducted in conjunction with the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional and local veterinary services, National Reference Laboratory for asfivirus diseases, regional veterinary laboratory and border inspection post, is to assess and check the National Contingency Plan and policies for the control and eradication of an asfivirus disease outbreak, with a view to detecting critical points and identifying improvements in the Plan, instructions, structures and procedures.

The objectives of the simulation exercise are to:

1. demonstrate that the Authorities are taking the threat of asfivirus animal disease seriously and have effective policies and contingency plan in place;
2. exercise the integration and interaction between the strategic and tactical levels within Ministry of Health, the Regional and Local Veterinary Services and the National Reference Laboratory to demonstrate the joined up response to an outbreak of ASF;
3. exercise the multi services response to an outbreak of ASF to have high levels of alert proportionate to the threats and losses in case of introduction of asfivirus diseases, both nationally and locally;
4. exercise the Animal Health’s operational model, as “contingency system”, in reaction to a confirmed case of ASF regionally/locally, to demonstrate increased readiness and resilience within the structure.

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