Active environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Midwestern United States meatpacking plants

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 12; p. e0261704
• Main Authors: Storms, Suzanna M, Lowe, James F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 31.12.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Air samples; Air sampling; Biology and life sciences; Coronaviruses; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Disease control; Disease transmission; Disinfection - statistics & numerical data; Employees; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - statistics & numerical data; Hogs; Humans; Infections; Meat industry; Meat-Packing Industry - statistics & numerical data; Medical screening; Medical supplies; Medicine and health sciences; Midwestern United States - epidemiology; Physical Distancing; Pilot Projects; Plant communities; Safety and security measures; Sampling; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Social distancing; Social Sciences; Veterinary colleges; Veterinary medicine; Viral diseases; Viruses; Workers; Midwestern United States; United States; United States > US; Illinois
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261704

This pilot project investigated environmental SARS-CoV-2 presence in seven Midwestern meatpacking plants from May 2020 to January 2021. This study investigated social distancing and infection control practices and incorporated environmental sampling of surfaces and air in employee common areas. All plants increased their social distancing efforts, increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting worker areas, and screened for symptomatic people to prevent entry into the workplace. 575 samples from common areas were collected and evaluated with RT-qPCR for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. 42/367 surface samples were positive, while no virus was detected in air samples. Case positive data from the counties surrounding each plant showed peak positive SARS-CoV-2 cases from 12-55 days before the virus was detected in the plant, indicating that environmental sampling is likely a lagging indicator of community and plant infection.