Countries starting to simulate bird flu outbreaks

Filed Under Bird Flu

I find it reassuring that London and Singapore are devoting significant resources to testing their readiness for possible outbreaks of avian flu. The London based exercise started today and is involving a large number of authorities who will be tasked with managing and containing a bird flu outbreak.

Note that they are testing their responses to avian flu in the bird population, not humans and I think this is the correct approach. Containing an outbreak with various levels of exclusion zones will reduce the risk of the virus spreading across the country and maybe into the population as a whole.

Testing that each agency understands their roles and responsibilities now, rather in the heat of the moment, has to be sensible. I guess the UK government has looked long and hard at their poor response to foot and mouth disease about five years ago.

When, I wonder, are other countries going to start simulating bird flu outbreaks. Of course some European countries - France and Germany, for example - are doing this in earnest already but countries with reliance on agriculture should be undertaking similar exercises too.