Agriculture Ministry tests bird flu response in national simulation exercise

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has completed the Trinidad component of a national simulation exercise designed to strengthen the country’s ability to respond to outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu.

The exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Division of Food Security of the Tobago House of Assembly under the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme on Animal Disease Outbreak Response in Trinidad and Tobago.

According to the ministry, the exercise formed part of a wider national preparedness initiative aimed at improving coordination and emergency response to transboundary animal diseases.

Veterinary professionals, laboratory personnel, emergency management agencies, public health officials, law enforcement officers, communications specialists and senior government officials participated in the exercise.

The programme included field response drills, laboratory simulation exercises, risk and outbreak communications training, and a national tabletop exercise in which participants responded to evolving disease outbreak scenarios, coordinated resources and assessed national response capabilities.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Senator Ravi Ratiram said the exercise highlighted the importance of investing in preparedness before a crisis occurs.

“Preparedness is not built during a crisis; it is built long before one emerges,” Ratiram said. He added that the simulation allowed authorities to test existing systems, identify operational gaps and strengthen institutional coordination to ensure a swift and effective response to emerging animal health threats.

Ratiram also stressed that diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza require a coordinated national response involving animal health, public health, environmental management, emergency services and strategic communications.

FAO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago (ad interim) Dr Gillian Smith said animal disease outbreaks can have serious consequences for livelihoods, food security, public health and trade.

Smith said the lessons learned from the exercise would contribute to stronger national resilience and more effective emergency response systems, noting that successful crisis management directly affects the livelihoods of farmers.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said the exercise reflects FAO’s continued technical support in strengthening veterinary services and emergency preparedness while promoting animal health systems that meet international standards.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with local, regional and international partners to strengthen disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and coordinated response mechanisms aimed at protecting the country’s livestock and poultry sectors and safeguarding food security.