Investigation of COVID-19 Outbreak among Wildland Firefighters during Wildfire Response, Colorado, USA, 2020

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Emerg Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Metz, Amanda Reiff ; Bauer, Matthew ; Epperly, Chelsey ; Stringer, Ginger ; Marshall, Kristen E. ; Webb, Lindsey Martin ; Hetherington-Rauth, Molly ; Matzinger, Shannon R. ; Totten, Sarah Elizabeth ; Travanty, Emily A. ; Good, Kristen M. ; Burakoff, Alexis
• Description:
  A COVID-19 outbreak occurred among Cameron Peak Fire responders in Colorado, USA, during August 2020-January 2021. The Cameron Peak Fire was the largest recorded wildfire in Colorado history, lasting August-December 2020. At least 6,123 responders were involved, including 1,260 firefighters in 63 crews who mobilized to the fire camps. A total of 79 COVID-19 cases were identified among responders, and 273 close contacts were quarantined. State and local public health investigated the outbreak and coordinated with wildfire management teams to prevent disease spread. We performed whole-genome sequencing and applied social network analysis to visualize clusters and transmission dynamics. Phylogenetic analysis identified 8 lineages among sequenced specimens, implying multiple introductions. Social network analysis identified spread between and within crews. Strategies such as implementing symptom screening and testing of arriving responders, educating responders about overlapping symptoms of smoke inhalation and COVID-19, improving physical distancing of crews, and encouraging vaccinations are recommended.
• Subjects:
  Colorado Coronavirus Disease Covid-19 Disease Outbreaks Firefighters Fires Humans Investigation Of Covid-19 Outbreak Among Wildland Firefighters During Wildfire Response, Colorado, Usa, 2020 Phylogeny Physical Distancing Public Health Respiratory Infections Sars-Cov-2 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Social Network Analysis Synopsis Viruses Whole-Genome Sequencing Wildfire Wildfires Zoonoses

  More +
• Source:
  Emerg Infect Dis. 2022; 28(8):1551-1558
• Pubmed ID:
  35705189
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC9328929
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Volume:
  28
• Issue:
  8
• Collection(s):
  Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:34e3478fc40022307684d042b82e3609773e92160ec4f45420bff046bdaf0c8a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/120195/cdc_120195_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.01 MB ]