Enhancing Healthcare Preparedness: Lessons from a Tabletop Exercise on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)

Methods: The exercise included escalating scenarios involving a single case of HPAI/H5N1 advancing to community transmission. Key participants spanned clinical departments, infection prevention and control, emergency management, and local public health stakeholders. Structured discussions targeted triggers for escalation, infection prevention strategies, and communication pathways.

Results: Findings highlighted the need for tailored screening criteria, robust infection prevention protocols, clear communication strategies, and collaboration with public health authorities. Specific improvements included refining triage and isolation protocols, enhancing staff education, and leveraging syndromic surveillance systems.

Conclusion: This exercise underscored the importance of proactive planning, multidisciplinary collaboration, and integration of biosafety measures to strengthen healthcare system resilience against HPAI/H5N1.