Anthrax Exposure Full Scale Exercise
To sign up to be a volunteer, please complete this survey https://redcap.vdh.virginia.gov/redcap/surveys/?s=PJXJRN3Y83CWRNDE
The Lord Fairfax Health District, along with community partners, is facilitating a full-scale exercise to simulate a response to a community anthrax exposure. This exercise will allow us to test our ability to rapidly deploy staff and volunteers to a Point of Dispensing (POD) site where appropriate medications will be administered. We are looking for volunteers to play "exposed victims" in an Anthrax exposure incident. Volunteer participation in the exercise will be approximately 20-30 minutes.
Scenario:
A mail courier reports a suspicious white powder at the bottom of his bin and feels sick after finishing his route. The HazMat team identifies it as Bacillus anthracis, and within 24 hours, LFHD opens a POD for exposed individuals.
When:
Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 from 11am - 2pm
Where:
TBD in Winchester, VA
Partners:
Virginia Department of Health, City of Winchester Emergency Management, Frederick County Emergency Management, Frederick County Fire & Rescue, Regional HazMat Team, Lord Fairfax MRC Unit 2771, Valley Health, Northern VA Emergency Response System, Shenandoah University, VA Department of Emergency Management
Capabilities Demonstrated:
Emergency Operations Coordination, Emergency Public Information & Warning, Information Sharing, Medical Countermeasures Dispensing & Administration, Medical Materials Management & Distribution, Responder Safety & Health, Volunteer Management
If you have any questions regarding this full-scale exercise, please reach out to Olivia Watson, the Local Health Emergency Coordinator.
If you have an event that you would like representatives from the Lord Fairfax Health District to attend, please reach out to AskLFHD@vdh.virginia.gov.
