2021 Crisis Preparedness Training: Annual Report

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) undertook two crisis training activities during 2021. Both were facilitated online and based on the fictional scenario of a Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak in Union (EU). An External Crisis Preparedness Training (ECPT) workshop occurred July 2021, targeting participants from EU Member States (MSs), Agencies international animal/human health organisations. It was jointly devised, developed delivered by EFSA with Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’ Abruzzo e del Molise (IZSAM), has been reported Supporting Publications (IZSAM & Instinctif Partners Ltd., 2021). second workshop, described this document designated Internal (ICPT), November Using repurposed version ECPT’s RVF scenario, ICPT’s overall objective to plan practise EFSA’s management risk communication, conjunction other agencies, joint urgent response multi-country animal health/public outbreak. Fourteen EFSA, Communications Expert Network (CEN) Centre for Disease Prevention Control (ECDC) attended training, plus 13 observers Commission’s (EC’s) Directorate-General Health (DG SANTE). Plenary working group extended across 1 day, including 3 presentations ECDC’s remits, capabilities communications best practice. A exercise explored how agencies DG SANTE would respond collaborate if entered EU. scenario’s escalating phases spanned several weeks, encompassing infection spread amongst human populations within MSs an candidate country. debrief sessions distilled both events’ discussions into practical recommendations future enhancements improvements areas collaboration, process communication. objectives each event achieved, recorded outcomes evaluative feedback participants.