title: No evidence of infection with avian influenza viruses among US poultry workers in the Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland and Virginia, USA.
abstract: Industrial poultry workers may be at elevated risk of avian influenza infection due to intense occupational contact with live poultry. Serum samples from poultry workers and community members in the Delmarva Peninsula, one of the densest regions of poultry production in the United States, were analyzed for antibodies to strains of five avian influenza subtypes using microneutralization assays. No evidence of infection was found, suggesting inefficient transmission to humans or the absence of virus in these premises. Continued serological surveillance of workers in industrial food animal facilities is necessary to prevent the transmission of influenza A viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC, USA. jessica.leibler@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jessica H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Leibler
authors.forename: Ellen K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Silbergeld
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pekosz
authors.forename: Gregory C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011200:Poultry / Q000821:virology; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral