title: Swine worker awareness and behavior regarding prevention of zoonotic influenza transmission.
abstract: ABSTRACT A convenience survey of swine workers on large and small commercial farms in the Northeast and Midwest United States regarding zoonotic influenza awareness and precautions was conducted. Workers reported low levels of concern regarding the risk of contracting influenza from swine, and were generally not aware of national guidelines for influenza prevention. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) varied by task, N95 respirator use was rare, and no workers were enrolled in respirator programs. Reported influenza vaccination coverage was greater than the national average in 2009-2010, but declined in 2010-2011. Workers on large farms were more likely to use PPE in some tasks and to report using more precautions when pigs appeared ill. Although reporting low levels of concern regarding zoonotic influenza and low adherence to national influenza guidelines, swine workers reported making task-based and risk-based decisions about use of PPE, suggesting opportunities for enhanced prevention of zoonotic disease transmission.
authors.affiliation: a Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , Connecticut , USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rabinowitz
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Lynda Osadepe
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Odofin
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Messinger
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sparer
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vegso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D003237:Connecticut; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D009329:Nebraska; D011482:Protective Devices; D013552:Swine; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission*