UK Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens.

UK's Chief Veterinary Officer involved in Europe wide event

An emergency planning workshop looking at communication during situations such as an outbreak of pandemic flu, foot and mouth disease, rabies and ash dieback, is being held by Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) today.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens will join scientist and policy makers from across the UK and Europe for the fourth annual workshop.

Today's event will look specifically at how modelling-based analysis and complex results are communicated to the public and across the industry during an emergency.

It will also address how evidence is brought together and how relationships can be built with emergency responders and decision makers in preparation for a rapid response when required.

Representatives from UK and European organisations including the AHVLA, The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Animal Health Trust, the University of Cambridge, Public Health England, The Met Office, The Pirbright Institute, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, are all due to speak at today's event.

Charlotte Cook, workshop organiser from AHVLA, said: “As mathematical modellers and policy makers commissioning modelling projects we face complex communications on a daily basis. These may cover relatively simple tasks, such as defining a problem, to the more complex, such as communicating final solutions and results.

“This workshop is aimed at addressing the central question of ‘How can we improve communications of modelling concepts during emergency situations?’ by looking at some of the different issues that arise during an emergency situation.”