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The University of Nebraska Medical Center undertook an epidemiologic study* of COVID-19 in seven beef plants, three pork plants and one poultry plant in addition to two secondary processing facilities employing from 400 to 3,000 workers with a mean of 1,675 per plant.
During the period April 1 through July 31, 2020, 5,002 workers out of approximately 26,000 were diagnosed with COVID-19 representing an attack rate of 19 percent. Among the 5,002 total case-patients studied, the median age was 43 years with 58 percent men and 67 percent identified as Hispanic or Latino. Symptoms were reported by 85 percent of the study group and average duration of illness was 12.8 days. Of patients hospitalized, 73 percent were of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.
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JBS Plant, Grand Island ,NE. |
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The study demonstrated the benefit of preventive measures such as placement of physical barriers along production lines and in cafeterias, enforcing masking and supplying PPE. Ten days after preventive measures were initiated, eight plants showed a statistically significant decrease in incidence rate, three showed non-significant decreases and one facility showed a statistically significant increase in cases. Masking in three facilities evaluated showed a significant reduction in incidence rate.
In reviewing results, the author’s concluded that multilayered interventions are effective and reduction in incidence cannot be achieved through introduction of only one or two precautionary measures.
*Herstein, J. et al. Characteristic of SARS-COV-2 Transmission among Meat Processing Workers in Nebraska, USA and Effectiveness of Risk Mitigation Measures. Emerging Infectious Diseases 27: April 2021. doi: 10.3201/eid 2704.204800
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