Costa Rica, simulation to inform respiratory pandemic strategy

From 25 to 27 November, Costa Rica held a simulation exercise in San José based on its updated National Pandemic Preparedness Plan and aimed to assess and strengthen Costa Rica’s capacity to respond to respiratory pathogens. The exercise was organised with technical support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and involved key actors from different sectors. Participants were tasked with evaluating the plan’s mechanisms and proposing improvements in line with the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative. The exercise used a hypothetical scenario that modelled the progression of an influenza outbreak from detection in another country to widespread community transmission within Costa Rica. The simulation addressed emergency coordination, cross-border health management, access to countermeasures, surveillance and risk communication. This pragmatic approach identified areas for improvement, clarified roles and reinforced preparedness triggers. The exercise focuses on the implementation of aspects related to risk communication and community involvement. In addition, a detailed review of the five key components of the PRET was undertaken to ensure alignment with international standards.