Psittacosis Outbreak among Workers at Chicken Slaughter Plants, Virginia and Georgia, USA, 2018.

Kelly A Shaw,Christine M Szablewski,Olivia L Mcgovern,Audrey Kunkes,Patricia Bair,Cherie Drenzek,Meredith Davis,Laura Kornegay,Miwako Kobayashi,Marie A De Perio,Julie Gabel,Stephanie Kellner,Laurie Forlano,Julia Murphy,Caroline Holsinger,Jonas Winchell,Skyler Brennan,Nancy Burton

doi:10.3201/eid2511.190703

Abstract

During August–October, 2018, an outbreak of severe respiratory illness was reported among poultry slaughter plant workers in Virginia and Georgia, USA. A multiorganizational team investigated the cause and extent of illness, determined that the illness was psittacosis, and evaluated and recommended controls for health hazards in the workplace to prevent additional cases.

Highlights

During August–October, 2018, an outbreak of severe respiratory illness was reported among poultry slaughter plant workers in Virginia and Georgia, USA
On September 12, the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) was notified that 3 employees of a Georgia chicken slaughter plant owned by the same company were hospitalized with pneumonia
Using sequencing of the outer membrane protein A gene, we identified genotype D of C. psittaci in patient specimens; this genotype is most often found in poultry [4,5]

Summary

Introduction

During August–October, 2018, an outbreak of severe respiratory illness was reported among poultry slaughter plant workers in Virginia and Georgia, USA. During 2008–2017, a total of 60 cases of psittacosis, a nationally notifiable disease in the United States, were reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nndss). During August 31–September 4, 2018, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) received reports of 10 persons, all workers at the same chicken slaughter plant, hospitalized with fever, headache, cough, and radiographic evidence of pneumonia.

Results

Conclusion