Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
U.S. CDC and Indonesian Government Strengthen Avian Influenza Preparedness Through Joint Tabletop Exercise in South Sumatra
Multi-Agency Collaboration Enhances Rapid Response Capabilities to Protect Community Health and Safety
By U.S. Embassy Jakarta
April 10, 2026
PRESS RELEASE
(Photo: U.S. Consulate Medan)
Palembang, Indonesia — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its implementor Health Security Partners, concluded a four-day tabletop exercise and field training this week aimed at strengthening District and Provincial Rapid Response Teams in South Sumatra Province. The exercise, held April 7-10 in Palembang, brought together the CDC and key Indonesian government agencies to enhance bilateral preparedness against avian influenza and other emerging infectious disease threats.
The collaborative exercise was coordinated with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, and Natural Resources Conservation Agency, demonstrating the whole-of-government approach necessary for effective disease surveillance and response. The CDC works with countries around the world to strengthen their capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, protecting the health of Americans and people worldwide.
CDC’s Public Health Specialist Yenny Tju says, “This is a multi-sectorial collaboration and preparation of a high-potential respiratory disease outbreak. Developing a rapid response team will mitigate the outbreak when, not if, it occurs. We know diseases know no borders and we must stay ahead in our interconnected world.”
(Photo: U.S. Consulate Medan)
Recent cases of avian influenza detected in humans in Cambodia underscore the critical importance of robust surveillance systems to monitor local environments and rapidly detect potential outbreaks. This virus continues to pose significant risks not only to bird populations but also to human health across the region.
“We thank CDC for this technical support and the training opportunity and collaboration to prevent zoonotic diseases,” said the Head of the South Sumatra Provincial Health Office, Dr. H. Trisnawarman, M.Kes., Sp.KKLP.
Elly Puspasari Lubis from MOA’s Directorate of Animal Health emphasized the urgency of preparedness: “Zoonotic diseases can happen rapidly and we need to remain prepared to respond.”
The exercise focused on accelerating outbreak detection and response capabilities to swiftly contain diseases that threaten the health, safety, and prosperity of communities. By sharing knowledge, learning from each other, and conducting practical simulation exercises, participants enhanced their collective preparedness and resilience against avian influenza and other infectious disease threats.
This collaboration reflects the strong partnership between the United States and Indonesia in advancing global health security. The U.S. commitment to supporting Indonesia’s disease surveillance and outbreak response capabilities aligns with broader efforts to detect and contain infectious disease threats at their source, protecting both Indonesian citizens and Americans at home and abroad.
(Photo: U.S. Consulate Medan)
(Photo: U.S. Consulate Medan)
https://id.usembassy.gov/u-s-cdc-an...ugh-joint-tabletop-exercise-in-south-sumatra/
Multi-Agency Collaboration Enhances Rapid Response Capabilities to Protect Community Health and Safety
By U.S. Embassy Jakarta
April 10, 2026
PRESS RELEASE
(Photo: U.S. Consulate Medan)
Palembang, Indonesia — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its implementor Health Security Partners, concluded a four-day tabletop exercise and field training this week aimed at strengthening District and Provincial Rapid Response Teams in South Sumatra Province. The exercise, held April 7-10 in Palembang, brought together the CDC and key Indonesian government agencies to enhance bilateral preparedness against avian influenza and other emerging infectious disease threats.
The collaborative exercise was coordinated with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, and Natural Resources Conservation Agency, demonstrating the whole-of-government approach necessary for effective disease surveillance and response. The CDC works with countries around the world to strengthen their capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, protecting the health of Americans and people worldwide.
CDC’s Public Health Specialist Yenny Tju says, “This is a multi-sectorial collaboration and preparation of a high-potential respiratory disease outbreak. Developing a rapid response team will mitigate the outbreak when, not if, it occurs. We know diseases know no borders and we must stay ahead in our interconnected world.”
(Photo: U.S. Consulate Medan)
Recent cases of avian influenza detected in humans in Cambodia underscore the critical importance of robust surveillance systems to monitor local environments and rapidly detect potential outbreaks. This virus continues to pose significant risks not only to bird populations but also to human health across the region.
“We thank CDC for this technical support and the training opportunity and collaboration to prevent zoonotic diseases,” said the Head of the South Sumatra Provincial Health Office, Dr. H. Trisnawarman, M.Kes., Sp.KKLP.
Elly Puspasari Lubis from MOA’s Directorate of Animal Health emphasized the urgency of preparedness: “Zoonotic diseases can happen rapidly and we need to remain prepared to respond.”
The exercise focused on accelerating outbreak detection and response capabilities to swiftly contain diseases that threaten the health, safety, and prosperity of communities. By sharing knowledge, learning from each other, and conducting practical simulation exercises, participants enhanced their collective preparedness and resilience against avian influenza and other infectious disease threats.
This collaboration reflects the strong partnership between the United States and Indonesia in advancing global health security. The U.S. commitment to supporting Indonesia’s disease surveillance and outbreak response capabilities aligns with broader efforts to detect and contain infectious disease threats at their source, protecting both Indonesian citizens and Americans at home and abroad.
https://id.usembassy.gov/u-s-cdc-an...ugh-joint-tabletop-exercise-in-south-sumatra/