El Salvador strengthens its preparedness for future pandemics with a national simulation exercise

San Salvador, March 2026.

The Ministry of Health of El Salvador (MINSAL), with the support from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), conducted a national pandemic preparedness Simulation Exercise (SimEx) for respiratory viruses on March 11-12, 2026. The exercise brought together national institutions and international partners with the aim of assessing the country's capacity to respond in a coordinated and timely manner to large-scale health emergencies.

This activity is part of ongoing efforts led by the Ministry of Health to strengthen national preparedness for future pandemics, within the framework of updating the National Plan for Preparedness and Response to Respiratory Viruses with Pandemic Potential (NPPP). This plan was developed in 2025 under the leadership of MINSAL, with the participation of various government institutions, and constitutes the main strategic instrument guiding the country's preparedness and response to high-impact public health emergencies.

As part of the preparatory activities for the exercise, a workshop to familiarize participants with the NPPP was held the day before the SimEx. This session allowed to present the plan's main components, analyze its structure, and foster a shared understanding of preparedness and response mechanisms prior to the simulation.

Forty-four representatives from institutions within the national health system and other strategic sectors participated in the SimEx, including the Ministry of Health (MINSAL), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), the General Directorate of Civil Protection, the Salvadoran Social Security Institute (ISSS), the National Public Health Laboratory, and the Emergency Medical Service, among others, as well as regional and international organizations such as SE-COMISCA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This multisectoral participation reflects the One Health approach, which promotes collaboration across the human health, animal health, and environmental sectors to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to emerging health threats.

During the exercise, participants engaged with a range of simulated scenarios representing the progression of a respiratory event with pandemic potential. Through group-base discussions, they analyzed possible transmission scenarios, evaluated institutional response mechanisms, and proposed actions to strengthen intersectoral coordination.

As a result of the exercise, participants identified several strengths, including:

• The intersectoral nature of the plan, which integrates multiple institutions under the One Health framework.

• The plan's organization into preparation, response, and recovery phases, which allows actions to be tailored to the evolution of an emergency.

• The practical applicability of the plan as a decision-making tool during complex public health events.

The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to continue strengthening national capacities for pandemic preparedness and response, promoting intersectoral coordination and the continuous improvement of health planning tools.

PAHO/WHO highlighted the importance of such exercises for testing plans, identify gaps, strengthen coordination among institutions, and improvdecision-making mechanisms during crisis situations. These initiatives contribute to building stronger preparedness for future public health emergencies, benefiting both national and regional health security across the Americas.

The country plans to continue conducting simulation exercises on a regular basis as part of its strategy for preparedness and continuous improvement of the National Plan for Preparedness and Response to Respiratory Viruses with Pandemic Potential.