Patient-zero drill put health facilities to the test—40% of them failed
Summary
A drill tested how well health facilities in New York could respond to a patient with symptoms of a possibly dangerous flu. Only 60% of the 73 facilities met the basic standards of masking and isolating the patient, showing that many places are not fully ready for a pandemic-level infection.Key Facts
- The drill took place from January to June 2026 at 73 healthcare facilities including emergency departments, clinics, and urgent care centers.
- Actors acted as patients with symptoms of a possible bird flu infection with pandemic potential.
- To pass, facilities had to give the patient a mask and isolate them in a special room.
- Only 60% of facilities succeeded in both masking and isolating the actors.
- Less than half met the goal times of masking within 1 minute and isolation within 10 minutes.
- Only 7 out of 73 facilities asked about bird flu exposure, even though the actors gave a related story.
- Many clinicians did not wear all recommended protective gear; 25% wore all, and 6% wore none.
- The test showed hospitals need better training to quickly identify, mask, and isolate infectious patients.
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