Dr Headley Edwards, Director of Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Jamaica, informed the OIE that his country will conduct a real-time simulation exercise on 2 and 3 November 2006 to test its preparedness in responding to any possible outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in domestic poultry.

The exercise named "Operation Poultry" will evaluate Jamaica´s Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness Plan, the ability of the state, allied agencies and stakeholders to respond to exotic disease outbreaks such as HPAI and the biosecurity measures applied in poultry farms.