Notes from the Field: Characteristics of Meat Processing Facility Workers with Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection – Nebraska, April-May 2020

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Bealle, Andreea E. ; Buss, Bryan F. ; Donahue, Matthew ; Rajasingham, Anu ; Reefhuis, Jennita ; Ritchison, Natasha ; Safranek, Thomas ; Sreenivasan, Nandini ; Stover, Derry T. ; Waltenburg, Michelle A. ; Watson, Joanna
• Description:
  Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been reported nationwide among meat processing facility workers. In late April 2020, through flyers and text messages, workers at a Nebraska meat processing facility were invited by the facility, in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, to be tested for current SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, at their worksite, free of charge. Specimens were analyzed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) by a contracting laboratory. This investigation was determined by CDC to be public health surveillance. Among 1,216 Nebraska-resident meat processing facility workers tested, 375 (31%) had positive results. During May 8-25, case investigators attempted to interview the 349 workers who had positive test results and available phone numbers; five refused, 99 were not reached after five attempts, and four did not report symptom status, leaving 241 (69%) of the attempted interviews for analysis. Among the 241 interviewed workers, 57% were male, the median age was 41 years (range = 18-76 years), and 46% were Hispanic. Approximately one third (78; 32%) of respondents reported no symptoms. Among the 163 symptomatic respondents, two were hospitalized, and no deaths were identified. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases COVID-19 Demography Food-Processing Industry Food Handling Food Industry Occupational Health Race Factors Safety Surveys And Questionnaires Viral Diseases

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• Keywords:
  Meat handlers; Meat packing industry; Food processing workers; Food processing industry; Viral infections; Viral diseases; Infectious diseases; Disease incidence; Disease transmission; Demographic characteristics; Health surveys; Surveillance; Humans; Men; Women; Racial factors; Medical screening; Clinical tests
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6931a3
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Nebraska ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  WSD - Western States Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  3 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Newman, Allison
• Volume:
  69
• Issue:
  31
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20060545
• Citation:
  MMWR 2020 Aug; 69(31):1020-1022
• Email:
  phu0@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Nebraska State Department of Health and Human Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20150701
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f4770b8c55df52d13c64065f25b96d373ab63da52b8032a43fb08637b81d7f57129f44d448051de209c3e4ae20df346ad082a2b98698ddc2d0aef8171f55955d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/248483/cdc_248483_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 198.44 KB ]