1887
Outbreaks Open Access
Like 0

Abstract

Meat processing plants have been prominent hotspots for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreaks around the world. We describe infection prevention measures and risk factors for infection spread at a meat processing plant in Germany with a COVID-19 outbreak from April to June 2020. We analysed a cohort of all employees and defined cases as employees with either a PCR or ELISA positive result. Of 1,270 employees, 453 (36%) had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The highest attack rates were observed in meat processing and slaughtering areas. Multivariable analysis revealed that being a subcontracted employee (adjusted risk ratio (aRR)): 1.43, 95% CI: 1.06–1.96), working in the meat cutting area (aRR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.45–4.48), working in the slaughtering area (aRR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.32–4.45) and being a veterinary inspector (aRR: 4.77, 95% CI: 1.16–23.68) increased infection risk. Sharing accommodation or transportation were not identified as risk factors for infection. Our results suggest that workplace was the main risk factor for infection spread. These results highlight the importance of implementing preventive measures targeting meat processing plants. Face masks, distancing, staggering breaks, increased hygiene and regular testing for SARS-CoV2 helped limit this outbreak, as the plant remained open throughout the outbreak.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.13.2100354
2022-03-31
2024-10-10
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.13.2100354
Loading
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/eurosurveillance/27/13/eurosurv-27-13-2.html?itemId=/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.13.2100354&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Lemieux JE, Siddle KJ, Shaw BM, Loreth C, Schaffner SF, Gladden-Young A, et al. Phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Boston highlights the impact of superspreading events. Science (80-). 2021;371(6529).
  2. Adam DC, Wu P, Wong JY, Lau EHY, Tsang TK, Cauchemez S, et al. Clustering and superspreading potential of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Hong Kong. Nat Med. 2020;26(11):1714-9.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-1092-0  PMID: 32943787 
  3. Endo A, Abbott S, Kucharski AJ, Funk S, Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases COVID-19 Working Group. Estimating the overdispersion in COVID-19 transmission using outbreak sizes outside China. Wellcome Open Res. 2020;5(67):67.  https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15842.3  PMID: 32685698 
  4. Leclerc QJ, Fuller NM, Knight LE. Group CC-W, Funk S, Knight GM. What settings have been linked to SARS-CoV-2 transmission clusters? Wellcome Open Res. 2020;5(83).
  5. van der Zee B, Levitt T, McSweeney E. Chaotic and crazy: meat plants around the world struggle with virus outbreaks. London: The Guardian. 11 May 2020. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/11/chaotic-and-crazy-meat-plants-around-the-world-struggle-with-virus-outbreaks
  6. Dyal JW, Grant MP, Broadwater K, Bjork A, Waltenburg MA, Gibbins JD, et al. COVID-19 Among Workers in Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities - 19 States, April 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(18):557-61.  https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6918e3  PMID: 32379731 
  7. Chin AWH, Chu JTS, Perera MRA, Hui KPY, Yen HL, Chan MCW, et al. Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental conditions. Lancet Microbe. 2020;1(1):e10.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-5247(20)30003-3  PMID: 32835322 
  8. Günther T, Czech-Sioli M, Indenbirken D, Robitaille A, Tenhaken P, Exner M, et al. SARS-CoV-2 outbreak investigation in a German meat processing plant. EMBO Mol Med. 2020;12(12):e13296.  https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202013296  PMID: 33012091 
  9. Middleton J, Reintjes R, Lopes H. Meat plants-a new front line in the covid-19 pandemic. BMJ. 2020;370:m2716.  https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2716  PMID: 32646892 
  10. Richmond CS, Sabin AP, Jobe DA, Lovrich SD, Kenny PA. Interregional SARS-CoV-2 spread from a single introduction outbreak in a meat-packing plant in northeast Iowa.2020;2-13.  https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.08.20125534 
  11. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. R Core Team (2018). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. [Accessed: 10 Feb 2021. Available from: https://www.r-project.org/
  12. Ministry of Economic Affairs and Ministry of Social Affairs Baden-Württemberg. Corona-Verordnung Schlachtbetriebe und Fleischverarbeitung. [Corona Ordinance on slaughterhouses and meat processing]. Stuttgart: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Ministry of Social Affairs Baden-Württemberg; 7 Jul 2020. German. Available from: https://sozialministerium.baden-wuerttemberg.de/fileadmin/redaktion/m-sm/intern/downloads/Downloads_Gesundheitsschutz/200707_WM-SM_CoronaVO_Schlachtbetriebe-Fleischverarbeitung.pdf
  13. Fair Mobility. Fleischindustrie: Fakten und Zahlen. [Meat industry: facts and figures]. Berlin: Fair Mobility. [Accessed: 10 Feb 2021]. German. Available from: https://www.faire-mobilitaet.de/++co++a6fb1784-9739-11ea-8826-52540088cada
  14. Asadi S, Wexler AS, Cappa CD, Barreda S, Bouvier NM, Ristenpart WD. Aerosol emission and superemission during human speech increase with voice loudness. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):2348.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-38808-z  PMID: 30787335 
  15. van Doremalen N, Bushmaker T, Morris DH, Holbrook MG, Gamble A, Williamson BN, et al. Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(16):1564-7.  https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2004973  PMID: 32182409 
  16. Günther T, Czech-Sioli M, Indenbirken D, Robitaille A, Tenhaken P, Exner M, et al. SARS-CoV-2 outbreak investigation in a German meat processing plant. EMBO Mol Med. 2020;12(12):e13296.  https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202013296  PMID: 33012091 
  17. Brandt MP, Jäger W, Epple S, Haferkamp A, Schröder A. SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in medical employees in a large urologic department: Spread, containment and outcome. Am J Infect Control. 2021;49(6):674-7.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2021.02.011  PMID: 33617920 
  18. Donahue M, Sreenivasan N, Stover D, Rajasingham A, Watson J, Bealle A, et al. Notes from the Field: Characteristics of Meat Processing Facility Workers with Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection - Nebraska, April-May 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(31):1020-2.  https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6931a3  PMID: 32759920 
  19. Morawska L, Tang JW, Bahnfleth W, Bluyssen PM, Boerstra A, Buonanno G, et al. How can airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors be minimised? Environ Int. 2020;142(May):105832.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105832  PMID: 32521345 
  20. Payne DC, Smith-Jeffcoat SE, Nowak G, Chukwuma U, Geibe JR, Hawkins RJ, et al. , CDC COVID-19 Surge Laboratory Group. SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Serologic Responses from a Sample of U.S. Navy Service Members - USS Theodore Roosevelt, April 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(23):714-21.  https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6923e4  PMID: 32525850 
  21. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO Regional Office for Europe). What are relevant, feasible and effective approaches to promote acceptance, uptake and adherence to physical distancing measures for COVID-19 prevention and control? Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe. 2021. Available from: https://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/what-are-relevant,-feasible-and-effective-approaches-to-promote-acceptance,-uptake-and-adherence-to-physical-distancing-measures-for-covid-19-prevention-and-control-2021
  22. Deutsche Welle (DW). Germany: Over 600,000 re-enter “soft lockdown” after Gütersloh meat plant outbreak. [Accessed: 10 Feb 2021]. Berlin: DW. Available from: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-over-600000-re-enter-soft-lockdown-after-gütersloh-meat-plant-outbreak/a-53924892
  23. Milani GP, Dioni L, Favero C, Cantone L, Macchi C, Delbue S, et al. , UNICORN Consortium. Serological follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic subjects. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):20048.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77125-8  PMID: 33208819 
  24. Ladhani SN, Chow JY, Janarthanan R, Fok J, Crawley-Boevey E, Vusirikala A, et al. Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in six care homes in London, April 2020. EClinicalMedicine. 2020;26:100533.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100533  PMID: 32923993 
  25. Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Arbeitsschutzkontrollgesetz. [Occupational Health and Safety Control Act]. Berlin: Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. 2021. German. Available from: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/arbeitsschutzkontrollgesetz-1772606
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.13.2100354
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Supplementary data

Submit comment
Close
Comment moderation successfully completed
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error