A rural livestock collection center near Ecuador’s border reported dead wild birds, initially appearing as a routine animal health alert. Within days, the situation escalated in a simulation scenario into a complex multi-sector outbreak involving influenza A(H5N1) detected across multiple species, including dairy cattle, poultry, dogs, and even severe human cases involving a mother and infant. The exercise was part of a designed public health simulation, meaning the outbreak was fictional, but the response mechanisms tested were real and operational.
The simulation, conducted on April 16, 2026 under the PROTECT project led by PAHO/WHO and the World Bank with support from the Pandemic Fund, brought together public health, animal health, and environmental authorities across national and regional levels. Participants worked in real time with incomplete information, mirroring the pressures of an actual outbreak and testing how effectively sectors could coordinate decisions during a rapidly evolving crisis.
Early response highlighted the importance of communication systems for surveillance and coordination. While information sharing through phone calls, messaging apps, and emails proved effective due to strong personal networks among focal points, the exercise also exposed the need for more formalized systems with standardized protocols, clearer roles, and structured data exchange to improve consistency and scalability during emergencies.
As the simulated outbreak intensified, authorities activated emergency coordination structures, including the National Emergency Operations Committee, while managing laboratory testing across species and addressing public concerns amplified by social media rumors about food safety. Participants also had to make difficult strategic decisions such as public communication roles and responses to community pressure, reflecting real-world challenges in managing multi-species and high-uncertainty health events.
The exercise confirmed that Ecuador already has a strong institutional foundation for outbreak response, including established national health emergency plans, animal health surveillance systems, environmental response protocols, and reference laboratories. However, it also identified gaps such as limited interoperability between systems, the need for stronger coordination in risk communication, and improved protocols for managing complex, multi-species emergencies.
At the conclusion of the simulation, participants emphasized that properly closing and documenting an emergency is as critical as early response. They stressed that lessons learned should not remain informal but must be systematically recorded and integrated into official procedures to strengthen future preparedness.
The exercise is part of a broader multi-country initiative across South America aimed at strengthening surveillance and laboratory capacity, particularly in border regions where disease risks are higher. It reflects growing concern over the spread of influenza A(H5N1) in animals across the region since 2022 and underscores the need for sustained preparedness as future pandemic threats remain unpredictable but inevitable.
