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Published on: April 9, 2021
A Comprehensive Sampling Study on SARS-CoV-2 Contamination of Air and Surfaces in a Large Meat Processing Plant
Myrna M T de Rooij1, Reina S Sikkema, Martijn Bouwknegt
1From the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands (M.M.T.d.R., W.D., D.H., L.A.M.S., Y.d.G., S.N., and C.R.); Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (R.S.S., M.P.G.K.); Vion Food Group, Boxtel, the Netherlands (M.B.); Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands (K.R.S., C.R., A.M., and E.F.); European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden (K.R.S.); Municipal Health Services GGD Hart voor Brabant, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands (A.S.G.v.D.).
Objective:
We aimed to assess SARS-CoV-2 contamination of air and surfaces to gain insight into potential occupational exposure in a large meat processing plant experiencing COVID-19 clusters. Methods: Oro-nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 screening was performed in 76 workers. Environmental samples ( n = 275) including air, ventilation systems, sewage, and swabs of high-touch surfaces and workers' hands were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Twenty-seven (35.5%) of the (predominantly asymptomatic) workers tested positive with modest to low viral loads (cycle threshold ≥ 29.7). Six of 203 surface swabs, 1 of 12 personal air samples, and one of four sewage samples tested positive; other samples tested negative. Conclusions: Although one third of workers tested positive, environmental contamination was limited. Widespread SARS-CoV-2 transmission via air and surfaces was considered unlikely within this plant at the time of investigation while strict COVID-19 control measures were already implemented.
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