On Thursday, May 28, 2026, eight interns in the Diplôme d'Etudes Spécialisées (DES) de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales and DES de Biologie Médicale programs took part in a simulation training course on the management of an epidemic and biological risk (REB) by a biological risk level 3 (NRB3) pathogen, delivered by teams from the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department and the Virology Laboratory, at the Institut Toulousain de Simulation en Santé - ItSims of Toulouse University Hospital.
NRB3 infectious agents are those that can cause serious illness in humans, with possible spread in the community, but for which effective prophylaxis or treatment is generally available, unlike NRB4 infectious agents.
As part of an immersive exercise, interns were confronted with a simulation scenario placing them on the front line of an avian flu suspect patient during the first hours of care. Participants learned how to identify an ABR situation, and how to trigger the Toulouse University Hospital's ABR procedure. They also acquired the skills needed to implement precautionary measures adapted to the identified risk, for initial clinical care and management of biological samples.
This training course, accredited by the UNITEID University Research School, is designed to train interns in the initial management of a patient suspected of having a BRR infection, right from the start. Participants will receive a training certificate from EUR.
Rapid identification of a suspected case of EBR infection is crucial, and depends on the first caregiver to receive it, with the dual aim of initiating appropriate medical care for the patient while securing any risk of transmission.