HHS Staff Attend “Escudo Centinela,” a Full-Scale Pandemic Influenza Exercise in México

October 27, 2006 - The Mexican Federal Department of Health invited the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to send observers to "Escudo Centinela," a full-scale national exercise to evaluate the response to a full-scale pandemic influenza. 

The aim of the "Escudo Centinela or "Sentry-Shield," was to test the effectiveness of the Mexican Federal, State and Jurisdictional Pandemic Flu preparedness and response plans, and to make recommendations to improve them. "Escudo Centinela" was designed in two phases to test specific aspects of the plans: Command Post (Phase I), and Full-Scale Exercise (Phase II).  Conducted on June 20 and 21, 2006, Phase I objectives incorporated seven days of game time simulated over a period of 26 hours of real time.  Participants were based at their usual places of work, and communicated via phone, fax and email.

The full-scale exercise (Phase II) was conducted on October 10, 2006 and was observed by Dr. Keith Holtermann, of the HHS Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness (OPHEP), and Ms. Ch’uya Lane, of the HHS Office of Global Health Affairs (OGHA) took part as observers.  The exercise took place in the Mexican States of Tabasco and Chihuahua as well as in the Federal District (D.F).  “Escudo Centinela” is the first of a series of programmed exercises in México at the national, state and local level.

For more information:

• To see the latest HHS information on avian influenza and pandemic influenza: 

  http://www.flu.gov/

• Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization: 47th Directing Council:

  http://www.paho.org/english/gov/cd/cd47index-e.htm

  (Pan American Health Organization)

Last revised: February 04, 2010