Singapore prepared for bird flu, says animal health body

Singapore’s contingency plan for dealing with an outbreak of bird flu in a poultry slaughterhouse is “robust and efficient”, according to the country’s Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA).

The AVA held an emergency preparedness exercise, code-named Exercise Gallus VII, yesterday (17 July). The exercise simulated the detection of bird flu at a poultry slaughterhouse owned by Soonly Food Processing Industries, and involved around 100 AVA and Soonly staff.

Workers were asked to put on personal protective equipment (PPE), before testing the culling, carcass and disposal process that would be implemented in the case of a bird flu outbreak.

AVA chief executive officer, Tan Poh Hong, said: “Cooperation between AVA and the industry is essential in managing a bird flu outbreak in Singapore. We thank Soonly Food Processing Industries for their cooperation in this field exercise. We are encouraged by the conclusion of Exercise Gallus VII and will continue to strengthen our links with the industry as a vanguard against future emergencies.”