Evidence of previous avian influenza infection among US turkey workers

G Kayali; E J Ortiz; M L Chorazy; G C Gray

doi:10.1111/j.1863-2378.2009.01231.x

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Evidence of previous avian influenza infection among US turkey workers

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Evidence of previous avian influenza infection among US turkey workers

G Kayali, E J Ortiz, M L Chorazy and G C Gray

Zoonoses and public health, Vol.57(4), pp.265-272

06/2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2009.01231.x

PMID: 19486492

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Abstract

The threat of an influenza pandemic is looming, with new cases of sporadic avian influenza infections in man frequently reported. Exposure to diseased poultry is a leading risk factor for these infections. In this study, we used logistic regression to investigate serological evidence of previous infection with avian influenza subtypes H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, H9, H10, and H11 among 95 adults occupationally exposed to turkeys in the US Midwest and 82 unexposed controls. Our results indicate that farmers practising backyard, organic or free-ranging turkey production methods are at an increased risk of infection with avian influenza. Among these farmers, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for elevated microneutralization assay titres against avian H4, H5, H6, H9, and H10 influenza strains ranged between 3.9 (95% CI 1.2-12.8) and 15.3 (95% CI 2.0-115.2) when compared to non-exposed controls. The measured ORs were adjusted for antibody titres against human influenza viruses and other exposure variables. These data suggest that sometime in their lives, the workers had been exposed to low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses. These findings support calls for inclusion of agricultural workers in priority groups in pandemic influenza preparedness efforts. These data further support increasing surveillance and other preparedness efforts to include not only confinement poultry facilities, but more importantly, also small scale farms.

United States - epidemiology

Abattoirs

Humans

Middle Aged

Occupational Exposure

Male

Turkeys

Young Adult

Aged, 80 and over

Adult

Female

Influenza, Human - virology

Agriculture

Cross-Sectional Studies

Risk Factors

Influenza in Birds - transmission

Influenza, Human - epidemiology

Influenza in Birds - epidemiology

Influenza, Human - transmission

Zoonoses - transmission

Animals

Adolescent

Influenza in Birds - virology

Aged

Influenza A virus - classification

Details

Title: Subtitle: Evidence of previous avian influenza infection among US turkey workers
Creators: G Kayali - Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. ghazi.kayali@stjude.org
E J Ortiz
M L Chorazy
G C Gray
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Zoonoses and public health, Vol.57(4), pp.265-272
DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2009.01231.x
PMID: 19486492
NLM abbreviation: Zoonoses Public Health
ISSN: 1863-1959
eISSN: 1863-2378
Publisher: Germany
Language: English
Date published: 06/2010
Academic Unit: Public Health Administration; Epidemiology
Record Identifier: 9983995151202771

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