Knowledge of Avian Influenza (H5N1) among Poultry Workers, Hong Kong, China - Vol. 17 No. 12 - December 2011 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal - CDC

Volume 17, Number 12—December 2011

Dispatch

Knowledge of Avian Influenza (H5N1) among Poultry Workers, Hong Kong, China

Article Contents

• The Study
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgments
• References
• Figure
• Table A1
• Table A2
• Suggested Citation

Jean H. Kim, Fung Kuk Lo , Ka Kin Cheuk, Ming Sum Kwong, William B. Goggins, Yan Shan Cai, Shui Shan Lee, and Sian Griffiths

 

Author affiliations: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China (J.H. Kim, F.K. Lo, M.S. Kwong, W.B. Goggins, Y.S. Cai, S.S. Lee, S. Griffiths); University of Oxford, Oxford, UK (K.K. Cheuk)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract

In 2009, a cross-sectional survey of 360 poultry workers in Hong Kong, China, showed that workers had inadequate levels of avian influenza (H5N1) risk knowledge, preventive behavior, and outbreak preparedness. The main barriers to preventive practices were low perceived benefits and interference with work. Poultry workers require occupation-specific health promotion.

In 1997, a zoonosis in humans caused by a highly lethal strain of avian influenza virus (H5N1) was reported in Hong Kong. Live-poultry markets were the source of this outbreak (1). As one of the world’s most densely populated regions (16,000 persons/mile² [>6,300 persons/km²]) (2), Hong Kong is a city at high risk for a large-scale outbreak of avian influenza caused by live poultry in large-volume wholesale markets and within neighborhood wet markets (open food stall markets).

Figure

Figure. Location of live poultry wet markets (open food stall markets) in relation to population density, Hong Kong, China, June–November 2009.

Because members of the average household in Hong Kong shop in wet markets on a habitual basis, these markets are located in the most densely populated areas (Figure) and are commonly multistory complexes or in basement levels of shopping centers. Because poultry workers are a potential bridge population (3,4), the government has instigated voluntary avian influenza training since 2001 that reviews regulations for workplace disinfection, waste disposal, poultry storage, and personal hygiene measures (5,6).

Despite occupational risk for exposure to avian influenza (7,8), there have been few studies of poultry workers (8–12). Most studies were conducted in rural settings in developing countries (9–12), but findings cannot be readily extrapolated to cities such as Hong Kong because of differences in food-handling practices and occupational settings. Knowledge, perceptions, and work practices of live-poultry workers in Hong Kong have not been examined. Therefore, a survey of these workers is timely and warranted, given confirmed persistence of avian influenza in Asia (13).

full-text:
Knowledge of Avian Influenza (H5N1) among Poultry Workers, Hong Kong, China - Vol. 17 No. 12 - December 2011 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal - CDC

Suggested citation for this article: Kim JH, Lo FK, Cheuk KK, Kwong MS, Goggins WB, Cai YS, et al. Knowledge of avian influenza (H5N1) among poultry workers, Hong Kong, China. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Dec [date cited]. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1712.110321

DOI: 10.3201/eid1712.110321

Medline reports the first author should be "Olsen SJ" not "Olsen S" in reference 10 "Olsen, Laosiritaworn, Pattanasin, Prapasiri, Dowel, 2005".