Preparing for a Foreign Animal Disease Outbreak Using a Novel Tabletop Exercise
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
Abstract
Foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreaks can have devastating impacts, but
they occur infrequently in any specific sector anywhere in the United States (US). Training
to proactively discuss implementation of control and prevention strategies are beneficial in
that they provide stakeholders with the practical information and educational experience
they will need to respond effectively to an FAD. Such proactive approaches are the mission
of the Secure Food System (SFS; University of Minnesota; St. Paul, Minnesota USA).
Methods: The SFS exercises were designed as educational activities based on avian
influenza (AI) outbreaks in commercial poultry scenarios. These scenarios were created by
subject matter experts and were based on epidemiology reports, risk pathway analyses, local
industry practices, and site-specific circumstances. Target audiences of an exercise were the
groups involved in FAD control: animal agriculture industry members; animal health
regulators; and diagnosticians. Groups of industry participants seated together at tables
represented fictional poultry premises and were guided by a moderator to respond to an onfarm
situation within a simulated outbreak. The impact of SFS exercises was evaluated
through interviews with randomized industry participants and selected table moderators.
Descriptive statistics and qualitative analyses were performed on interview feedback.
Results: Eleven SFS exercises occurred from December 2016 through October 2017 in
multiple regions of the US. Exercises were conducted as company-wide, state-wide, or
regional trainings. Nine were based on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks
and two focused on outbreaks of co-circulating HPAI and low pathogenicity avian
influenza (LPAI). Poultry industry participants interviewed generally found attending an
SFS exercise to be useful. The most commonly identified benefits of participation were its
value to people without prior outbreak experience and knowledge gained about Continuity
of Business (COB)-permitted movement. After completing an exercise, most participants
evaluated their preparedness to respond to an outbreak as somewhat to very ready, and
more than one-half reported their respective company or farms had discussions or changed
actions due to participation.
Conclusion: Evaluation feedback suggests the SFS exercises were an effective training
method to supplement preparedness efforts for an AI outbreak. The concept of using
multi-faceted scenarios and multiple education strategies during a tabletop exercise may be
translatable to other emergency preparedness needs.
Description
Keywords
Avian influenza, Continuing education, Disease outbreak, Exercise, Training program
Citation
Linskens, E. J., Neu, A. E., Walz, E. J., Charles, K. M. S., Culhane, M. R., Ssematimba, A., ... & Cardona, C. J. (2018). Preparing for a foreign animal disease outbreak using a novel tabletop exercise. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 33(6), 640-646. doi:10.1017/S1049023X18000717