NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Participates in International Infectious Disease Response Drill

New York – NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, in partnership with the NYC Health Department, FDNY, and NYC Emergency Management, participated this week in a large-scale international emergency exercise, Tranquil Passport, to simulate the safe transfer of patients with highly contagious diseases from Canada to U.S. treatment centers.

As the federally designated Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) for Region 2, Bellevue Hospital served as New York City’s receiving site for the drill, which took place in the context of planning for potential public health threats during major global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Two simulated patients with fictional high-consequence infectious diseases were flown into LaGuardia Airport and transported in a new federal Portable Biocontainment Unit, which can carry up to 10 patients. FDNY transferred them to Bellevue’s Special Pathogen Unit, where hospital teams practiced full protective protocols, including PPE use, biocontainment, and inter-agency coordination.

Officials from across city, state, and federal levels emphasized the importance of proactive readiness. “Exercises like Tranquil Passport stress-test our systems before a real emergency,” said Dr. Syra Madad, Chief Biopreparedness Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals. Bellevue CEO Dr. Eric Wei added, “This collaboration enhances our ability to protect New Yorkers from future pathogen threats.”

The simulation also tested patient-family communication, specimen handling, and the hospital’s new communication tools inside the unit. As the only active biocontainment unit in New York City, Bellevue plays a key role in both clinical response and national preparedness.

This initiative comes as federal funding for emergency health response remains in flux, underscoring the need for robust, ongoing investment in public health. infrastructure.