The aim of the exercise is to strengthen the public health defense in the event of a possible flu pandemic and to gear up the national surveillance, response and operational capabilities, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Code-named "Sparrowhawk II", the two-day exercise involves more than 1,000 personnel from 21 ministries and agencies including the MOH, the Ministry of Education and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.

The color-coded warning system will turn from green to orange and then to red alert as the large-scale drill rolls out at 19 locations countrywide such as the Changi Airport, the Tuas Land Checkpoint, as well as hospitals and other medical institutions.

Thousands of volunteers and members of the public will participate in the exercise, which simulates an escalation of a flu pandemic caused by the Avian Influenza infection in human.

Temperature screening, visitor registration, isolation of suspected cases, treatment and transfer of patients, as well as contact tracing, are among the procedures to be practiced during the exercise.

To enhance preparedness for a flu pandemic, the MOH has conducted a series of table-top and live exercises with individual public and private hospitals in May and June this year.