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KMID : 1143420190120040092
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Public Health Weekly Report
2019 Volume.12 No. 4 p.92 ~ p.97
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Serological study on poultry workers at highly pathogenic avian influenzainfected farms in Korea, 2004-2017
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Kim Chi-Kyeong
Woo Sang-Hee
Chung Yoon-Seok
Kang Chun
Lee Joo-Yeon
Kim Ki-Soon
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Abstract
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The avian influenza virus in humans can cause diseases ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection (fever and cough) with rapid progression, to severe pneumonia and even death. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks at the poultry farms caused by A/H5N8 and A/H5N6 have been occurring in Korea since 2014, and are potential threats to public health. This serological study involved poultry farmers (considered to be a high-risk population), and was conducted to determine the extent of avian-to-human transmission of the viruses and their associated risk factors. The serological investigation was performed on 1,832 participants who had either worked at poultry farms, or culled birds during the 2014-2017 outbreaks in Korea. Acute phase sera were collected from the poultry farmers and cullers on the days their farms were confirmed to be infected by HPAI A/H5N8 and A/H5N6. Convalescent phase sera were collected at least 4 weeks later. The serological tests were performed via microneutralization (MN) assay, and the results were considered to be positive if titers against H5 were ≥ 80, based on at least two independent assays. All tested sera were found to be negative via the MN assay. Despite the continuous outbreaks of A/H5N8 and A/H5N6 HPAI viruses in poultry between 2014 and 2017, this study found no evidence of HPAI A/H5N8 and A/H5N6 transmission to humans. However, influenza viruses are genetically variable, and their transmissibility is difficult to predict. Therefore, serosurveys of high-risk groups, such as farm workers, should be performed regularly.
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KEYWORD
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Serological study, Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Microneutralization, Farm workers, Human transmission
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