Simulation Exercise: Equine Influenza in Australia

23 and 24 November 2021

Dr Mark Schipp, Delegate to the OIE and Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra, Australia informed the OIE that a simulation exercise, Exercise Gammalite, will be held in Australia on 23 and 24 November 2021, using an equine influenza scenario.

Participants include the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Agriculture Victoria, Harness Racing Australia, Racing Australia, Equestrian Australia, the Australian Horse Industry Council, and Animal Health Australia.

The aim of Exercise Gammalite is to enhance the horse industries’ preparedness to respond to an emergency animal disease (EAD) incident, using a scenario-based discussion exercise.

The objectives of the exercise are to:

1. Increase awareness of roles and responsibilities of key horse industry and government stakeholders in an EAD response.
2. Enhance industry and government understanding of the impacts an EAD response could have on horse and allied industries.
3. Identify areas/mechanisms for collaboration and coordination of the horse industry signatories to the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA).

This will be a virtual (digital/web-based) exercise and no field activities will take place.

For further information about the exercise, please contact Jarrad Sanderson ([email protected]).

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