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Table 1 Risk categories and recommended preventive interventions in rendering plant workers potentially exposed to H5N1 infected poultry carcasses as applied during Incident II.

From: Limiting worker exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza a (H5N1): a repeat survey at a rendering plant processing infected poultry carcasses in the UK

Risk Group

Exposure category

Intervention provided

Occupational group

A. High risk

Direct contact - handling infected raw material

  
 

Droplet or aerosol -

contact with infected liquids or aerosol generated by high pressure water clearing within confined space

PPE, antiviral prophylaxis (oseltamivir), seasonal influenza vaccine

Raw material operatives; shunter drivers;

B. Medium risk

Indirect contact - handling/touching contaminated surfaces; work in confined production line spaces

 

General maintenance personnel

C. Low risk

Working in close proximity (within 1 metre) to infected dead poultry (but no exposure as described above)

PPE, seasonal influenza vaccine, with/without antiviral prophylaxis (based on individual assessment of exposure risk)

Production managers; general manager; electricians; duty manager; animal health officers

D. Negligible risk

Not sharing the same confined space with infected dead poultry, and no direct, indirect, droplet or aerosol contact

None

Managerial staff; administrative staff; long distance truck drivers

  1. PPE (personal protective equipment): filter face piece, protection level 3 (FFP3) respirator masks, eye goggles, splash proof overalls, gloves, boots, and hard hats.