40% of health facilities fail mock bird flu outbreak drill

A 2026 drill testing healthcare facilities’ response to a potential bird flu outbreak revealed alarming gaps in infection control. Only 60% of the 73 facilities tested properly masked and isolated actors simulating infected patients. Emergency departments performed worse than clinics and urgent care centers. Many facilities took excessively long to isolate patients, with some clinics taking nearly an hour. Staff often failed to wear proper protective equipment, and most did not ask about bird flu exposure. The results suggest that healthcare waiting areas could become high-risk settings for virus transmission if current practices continue.