2017 Volume 66 Issue 6 Pages 658-668
Training and exercise are crucial to enhance understanding of pandemic planning under the Act on Special Measures for Pandemic Influenza and New Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response relevant action plan and guidelines, and develop appropriate and rapid response capability in preparation for pandemic of novel flu or other newly emerging diseases. Gifu Prefecture of Japan hosted four table top exercise workshop based on the Facilitator's Guide for Pandemic Flu Response Exercise from the fiscal year 2015 to 2016. Here we report the exercise planning and outcomes to describe the effectiveness of this tool for promoting mutual understanding of stakeholders e.g. doctors in hospitals and clinics, infection control nurses, and public health officers and their cooperation, as well as understanding of the special measures act and pandemic action plan. This is the first report of the exercise that implemented this Facilitator's guide at a prefecture level.