The results of a massive health simulation conducted this week will be studied to improve Australia’s response to any future disease outbreak, Health Minister Tony Abbott says. More than 1,000 state and federal government officials took part in the $4.1 million exercise to test how prepared Australia is for an outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu.
The government already has spent more than $600 million preparing for an influenza epidemic, including building up one of the world’s largest anti-viral stockpiles.
Australia’s Chief medical officer Professor John Horvath said the exercise was essential to safeguard the nation in the case of a pandemic.