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Source: http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j9NAanzwe6gF06Qo7t-o1JUTy8UQ
WHO tests its disease outbreak response; Canada part of two-day simulation
1 hour ago
TORONTO ? The World Health Organization conducted a simulation exercise Wednesday to test its ability to respond in the event of a disease outbreak, and a Canadian location was part of the process.
For the simulation, a fictitious passenger potentially infected with an unknown new virus landed at Vancouver International Airport, moving Canadian public health officials to invoke quarantine powers to protect the Canadian public and the broader international community.
The Geneva-based agency embarked on the two-day exercise Wednesday, spokesperson Gregory Hartl said in an interview.
"It's a test of WHO's capacity to respond," he said, noting the exercise is designed to see how well the WHO can use the International Health Regulations, a newly revised global health treaty that requires countries to report disease outbreaks that might have international ramifications.
The rapidly evolving scenario began with the WHO receiving reports of outbreaks of unknown illnesses in Thailand and Vietnam, with differences in symptoms painting a picture that was initially confusing. Officials from both those countries and staff from the WHO's country offices in Thailand and Vietnam were also playing roles in the exercise.
Following the simulation, consultants who designed the scenario and ran the drill will debrief participants, looking for what worked, what didn't and what that reveals about systems that need to be fixed.
"These exercises are extremely valuable in helping us improve and learn," Hartl said.
WHO tests its disease outbreak response; Canada part of two-day simulation
1 hour ago
TORONTO ? The World Health Organization conducted a simulation exercise Wednesday to test its ability to respond in the event of a disease outbreak, and a Canadian location was part of the process.
For the simulation, a fictitious passenger potentially infected with an unknown new virus landed at Vancouver International Airport, moving Canadian public health officials to invoke quarantine powers to protect the Canadian public and the broader international community.
The Geneva-based agency embarked on the two-day exercise Wednesday, spokesperson Gregory Hartl said in an interview.
"It's a test of WHO's capacity to respond," he said, noting the exercise is designed to see how well the WHO can use the International Health Regulations, a newly revised global health treaty that requires countries to report disease outbreaks that might have international ramifications.
The rapidly evolving scenario began with the WHO receiving reports of outbreaks of unknown illnesses in Thailand and Vietnam, with differences in symptoms painting a picture that was initially confusing. Officials from both those countries and staff from the WHO's country offices in Thailand and Vietnam were also playing roles in the exercise.
Following the simulation, consultants who designed the scenario and ran the drill will debrief participants, looking for what worked, what didn't and what that reveals about systems that need to be fixed.
"These exercises are extremely valuable in helping us improve and learn," Hartl said.