Wearing white protective suits and goggles, four animal health officials sprayed disinfectant across an alley of chicken vendors at BSD Modern Market in South Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday.

Army personnel and police officers closely monitored the situation, preventing people from entering the area, which had been closed for cleaning.

“Cut! You can take a rest now, thank you,” shouted a woman standing a few meters away.

It was as if the filming of a medical-disaster movie was taking place, but it was actually a meticulously prepared simulation of an influenza epidemic carried out by the Health Ministry on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Apart from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police, other institutions playing a part in the simulation were the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Social Ministry, the South Tangerang administration and the Tangerang regency administration.

Similar activities took place at the Setu community health center (Puskesmas) in Setu subdistrict, BSD City’s Eka Hospital, the Center for Science and Technology Research (Puspiptek) complex, the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) compound, Tangerang Municipality Public Hospital, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Merak Harbor, which connects Java and Sumatra.

Speaking at a news conference at Puspiptek, South Tangerang, Health Minister Nila F. Moeloek said the locations had been selected because of their “bird flu epidemic” history. Tangerang and South Tangerang are no stranger to the contagious avian influenza, having seen around 30 cases since the first discovery of the H5N1 virus, which causes the disease, in 2005.

Preparations to tackle the dangers of an influenza pandemic, Nila said, was important as seen from the experience of other countries that had been unprepared in dealing with contagious diseases, citing Africa’s response to Ebola as an example.

Having seen hundreds of bird flu cases since 2005, Indonesia has never experienced an influenza pandemic, which occurs when there has been a man-to-man contagion and the discovery of a new virus strain. The world, however, has seen a number of influenza outbreaks, such as the Spanish Flu in 1918 that caused around 50 million deaths, the Asian flu in 1957 that took between 1 million and 4 million lives and the bird flu that, as of June 2017, has claimed 453 lives from 859 reported cases.

“I am not trying to frighten you, but we have to be afraid,” Nila said about the possible occurrence of an epidemic.

The simulation started with a woman who contracted bird flu from a chicken she had purchased from a vendor. A laboratory test conducted after the discovery detects the H7N9 bird flu virus.

As part of the scenario, a TNI emergency hospital was erected at Puspiptek, comprising tents for treating patients with “probable,” “confirmed” and “suspected” cases of bird flu. The Puspiptek complex also housed a media center tasked with producing at least two press statements a day to brief the public about the epidemic, as told by Health Ministry spokesman Oscar Primadi. It was also responsibility for shutting down hoaxes.

Mock press releases contained statements from Nila and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo detailing the pandemic and reassuring words for the public.

“Hoaxes can emerge at any time during a panic situation like an influenza pandemic,” Oscar said.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which observed the event, said the two-day simulation would not only test Indonesia’s capacity in such a situation, but also identify gaps for further action and preparedness to mitigate risks, and to respond to “public health emergencies of national or international concern.”

“A comprehensive, coordinated, whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach is key to country preparedness for public emergencies, including pandemic influenza,” acting WHO Representative to Indonesia Vinod Bura said in a statement.

Bura added the simulation had set an example on what countries needed to do to strengthen preparedness and response capacities for public health emergencies.

Some vendors at BSD Market, whose shops were used for the simulation, welcomed the activity.

“This is important because it is really related to our health,” said 41-year-old chicken vendor Wagimin.

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