Zoonoses and Public Health
Volume 57, Issue 7-8, 2010, Pages 493-498

Investigation of a Q fever outbreak in a scottish co-located slaughterhouse and cutting plant (Article)

Wilson L.E.* , Couper S. , Prempeh H. , Young D. , Pollock K.G.J. , Stewart W.C. , Browning L.M. , Donaghy M.
  • a Health Protection Scotland, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
  • b Public Health Department, NHS Forth Valley, Carseview House, Castle Business Park, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
  • c Public Health Department, NHS Forth Valley, Carseview House, Castle Business Park, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
  • d Department of Statistics and Modelling Science, University of Strathclyde, Livingstone Tower, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
  • e Health Protection Scotland, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
  • f Health Protection Scotland, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, Animal Health, Station Street, Stranraer, Scotland, United Kingdom
  • g Health Protection Scotland, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
  • h Health Protection Scotland, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Abstract

Outbreaks of Q fever are rare in the UK. In 2006, the largest outbreak of Q fever in Scotland occurred at a co-located slaughterhouse and cutting plant with 110 cases. Preliminary investigations pointed to the sheep lairage being the potential source of exposure to the infective agent. A retrospective cohort study was carried out among workers along with environmental sampling to guide public health interventions. A total of 179 individuals were interviewed of whom 66 (37%) were migrant workers. Seventy-five (41.9%) were serologically confirmed cases. Passing through a walkway situated next to the sheep lairage, a nearby stores area, and being male were independently associated with being serologically positive for Q fever. The large proportion of migrant workers infected presented a significant logistical problem during outbreak investigation and follow up. The topic of vaccination against Q fever for slaughterhouse workers is contentious out with Australasia, but this outbreak highlights important occupational health issues. © 2009 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Author Keywords

Migrant workers Q fever Coxiella burnetii Slaughterhouse

Index Keywords

follow up occupational disease human middle aged Cohort Studies rural population priority journal Occupational Diseases Logistic Models Animals interview Young Adult migrant worker Humans worker male female Risk Factors Incidence Disease Outbreaks Article epidemic Retrospective Studies Q Fever Abattoirs Coxiella burnetii major clinical study adult Sheep Ovis aries slaughterhouse Scotland United Kingdom cohort analysis Antibodies, Bacterial Transients and Migrants retrospective study Seroepidemiologic Studies Data Collection
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78649657058&doi=10.1111%2fj.1863-2378.2009.01251.x&partnerID=40&md5=208f8b8f948ff8aba946c331d126fc5b
DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2009.01251.x
ISSN: 18631959
Cited by: 18
Original Language: English