A mixed-methods approach to elucidate SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and clustering in outbreaks in native workers and labour migrants in the fruit and vegetable packaging industry in South Holland, the Netherlands, May to July 2020

Objectives: To obtain insight into SARS-CoV-2 clustering and transmission routes during outbreaks in the predominantly migrant workforce of the fruit and vegetable packaging industry of South Holland, the Netherlands, May to July 2020. Design: This mixed-methods study applied direct observation and interviews, epidemiologic investigation, source and contact data analysis and whole-genome sequencing. Results: We detected 46 SARS-CoV-2 cases and 4 outbreaks with a proportional representation of labour migrant and native workers in 6 unrelated facilities. Complete viral genome sequences revealed... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Laura H. Boogaard
Reina S. Sikkema
Janko H.G.M. van Beek
Henricus J. Brockhoff
Eva Dalebout
Barry de Heus
Sophie L. Niemansburg
David F. Nieuwenhuijse
Danny Stougje
Ellen Verspui
Bas B. Oude Munnink
Marion P.G. Koopmans
Ewout B. Fanoy
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2021
Reihe/Periodikum: International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol 109, Iss , Pp 24-32 (2021)
Verlag/Hrsg.: Elsevier
Schlagwörter: COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 / Food industry / Whole-genome sequencing / Labour migrants / Transmission routes / Infectious and parasitic diseases / RC109-216
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-27188467
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.06.021

Objectives: To obtain insight into SARS-CoV-2 clustering and transmission routes during outbreaks in the predominantly migrant workforce of the fruit and vegetable packaging industry of South Holland, the Netherlands, May to July 2020. Design: This mixed-methods study applied direct observation and interviews, epidemiologic investigation, source and contact data analysis and whole-genome sequencing. Results: We detected 46 SARS-CoV-2 cases and 4 outbreaks with a proportional representation of labour migrant and native workers in 6 unrelated facilities. Complete viral genome sequences revealed at least 3 clusters of native workers and labour migrants, 2 within and 1 between facilities. On-site inspections found adequate implementation of preventative measures to which both native workers and labour migrants showed suboptimal adherence. Being a labour migrant was associated with living in shared housing, but not with more contacts or different sources. Conclusions: The fruit and vegetable packaging industry gave the impression of sufficient preparedness and control. Suboptimal adherence to the facilities’ preventative guidelines could have facilitated work floor transmission. Community and household transmission are likely to have contributed to outbreaks. We encourage further research into risk factors for transmission in labour migrants and application of these insights into targeted public health policy.