Capacity building in biorisk management and field epidemiology: Proceedings of a biosafety and outbreak simulation training programme

The Biosafety and Outbreak Simulation Training 2025, held from 6–10 October 2025 at Manipal, Karnataka, India, brought together thirty homoeopathic doctors from 14 states to strengthen national preparedness for infectious disease threats. Organised by the Manipal Institute of Virology (MIV) under Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) in collaboration with the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), the workshop integrated theoretical sessions, hands-on training on sample transportation, and a comprehensive outbreak simulation exercise. Core modules spanned biorisk management, biosafety and biosecurity, biomedical waste management, incident response, epidemiological investigation, and sample transport in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations. A highlight of the workshop was the immersive ``Sirsi Fevers'' outbreak simulation, in which participants applied epidemiological methods, community engagement skills, and logistical planning to address a complex, resource-limited field scenario. Expert clinicians, public health specialists, and laboratory scientists provided multi-disciplinary perspectives drawn from real-world outbreak responses, including influenza, Nipah virus, cholera, melioidosis, and COVID-19. The workshop concluded with participant presentations, reinforcing applied understanding of the outbreak investigation process. Collectively, the program significantly enhanced participants' competencies in biosafety, outbreak detection, laboratory readiness, and public health response, establishing a model for continued CCRH-MAHE collaboration.