FAO in Myanmar

Building response capacity for pandemic threats of zoonotic influenza in Myanmar Animal Health services

Field Operations group discuss disease control during Simulation Exercise
29/09/2018

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Myanmar Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) organized a table-top outbreak simulation exercise on zoonotic H7N9 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among key animal health officers in a live bird market (LBM) in Myanmar. International avian influenza expert Dr Les Sims led the exercise last 19 September. 

Dr Sims is advising the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD), of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) on its AI preparedness and response policy. The work is part of a FAO-implemented project, “Evidence-Based Risk Management Along the Livestock Production and Market Chain” funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Over 50 participants attended, which included representatives from LBVD, the Myanmar Livestock Federation, the University of Veterinary Science, Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay City Development Committee, General Administration Department and the Department of Public Health.

The workshop sought to prioritise H7N9 control actions with all stakeholders who would likely be involved in a real case scenario. It applied the recently revised Myanmar Integrated Contingency Plan on Avian Influenza and Standard Operating Procedures for response.

Participants where split into various groups, such as surveillance, field operations, communication and a steering group.  The groups were guided and supported by FAO ECTAD team members. Participants were challenged with a fictional confirmed case of H7N9 virus in a LBM worker who had been admitted to hospital with serious pneumonia.

Overall, possible outbreak responses and relevant challenges; resource gaps and strengths were identified and discussed. A supplementary scenario information was revealed later during the exercise, which included additional human AI flu A H7N9 virus cases and positive laboratory results from active surveillance. As any H7N9 virus outbreak in Myanmar would immediately lead to massive international media interest, one of the workshop aims was to identify key technical messages to be communicated to specific audiences.

Dr Moe Moe Khine, Deputy Regional Veterinary Officer of Ayeyarwady Region, welcomed the simulation exercise, “this workshop is extremely helpful for LBVD and related departments to prepare for outbreak response management.”

Some participants were not familiar with the AI H7N9 virus threat and appropriate responses.  The exercise showed that communication between departments, to the media and the public is essential and will benefit from targeted strengthening. A risk communication workshop is planned, which is seen to be further enhancing communication capacities required during AI H7N9 virus outbreak in Myanmar.

Dr Thant Nyi Lin, veterinary public health associate professor at University of Veterinary Science, is also very satisfied with the learning experience. “Simulation exercises are essential for emergency preparedness, and I am thankful for the opportunity to have participated at this enriching workshop,” Dr Thant said.

FAO ECTAD team will continue to work closely with LBVD to increase the Myanmar veterinary services’ response capacity.