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Thread: Meat staff contract 'farm fever'

  1. #1
    veggiewoman
    Guest

    Default Meat staff contract 'farm fever'

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5196646.stm
    WARNING , DON'T LOOK AT THE LINK IF UPSET EASILY AS IT HAS A PICTURE OF INSIDE THE MEAT PROCESSING PLANT , I jsut thought I would put the link up anyway for those wanting more info .

    Here is another link regarding Q fever
    http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/qfever/index.htm



    Last Updated: Wednesday, 19 July 2006, 20:35 GMT 21:35 UK

    Meat staff contract 'farm fever'

    Eleven people who work at the plant have been diagnosed

    Eleven people who work at a meat processing plant in Bridge of Allan in Stirlingshire have contracted a rare infection known as Q fever.
    NHS Forth Valley has said it is possible others could be affected by the outbreak of the flu-like illness.
    An environmental health team was called in after workers at the Scotbeef facility reported feeling unwell.
    The health board said the risk of infection spreading to those who do not work at the plant was small.
    Q fever is caused by a bacterium called Coxiella burnetti carried by farm animals.
    We regret that staff have been affected and we have done all we can to keep employees and customers fully informed


    Adam Muggoch
    Scotbeef director


    The infection is usually passed to humans through the faeces, urine of milk of goats, sheep, or cows.
    It can also spread if people inhale dust that contains particles of infected animal tissue.
    Within a few weeks of becoming infected a person will experience a high fever, severe cough, headaches and muscle pains. However, many will fight off the infection without needing treatment.
    When this is the case the symptoms disappear after one or two weeks. However, some people can develop more severe problems.
    'High standards'
    Once Q fever has been diagnosed with a blood test doctors can prescribe antibiotics, which usually allow people to make a full recovery.
    Adam Muggoch, Scotbeef director, confirmed that a number of staff had fallen ill.
    He said: "I can confirm we've had a number of staff suffering from flu-like symptoms over the past two weeks.
    "On Monday, it was confirmed that they had Q fever, an infection normally found in sheep and cattle."
    Mr Muggoch added: "We operate to extremely high standards and we have been working closely with the relevant health and food standards authorities over the last two weeks to resolve the situation.
    "We regret that staff have been affected and we have done all we can to keep employees and customers fully informed."
    Blood tests have now confirmed that the illness is Q fever


    NHS Forth Valley


    In a statement, NHS Forth Valley said it has been investigating the illness along with Health Protection Scotland and Stirling Council's environmental health team.
    It said the teams "had been in contact with a number of people who have been ill over the past two weeks.
    "Blood tests have now confirmed that the illness is Q fever", it said.
    The health board added: "While we would not expect there to be any cases in people who do not work at the plant, there is a small theoretical risk of contracting Q fever by air-borne spread within a half mile radius of the plant.
    "We will be increasing our surveillance and have contacted GPs in this area to notify NHS Forth Valley if any patient presents with a flu-like illness of this nature."
    Small risk
    Leading microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington described the outbreak as "big".
    He told BBC Scotland: "It's a big number, it's a big outbreak. It's not the first outbreak we've seen in this particular kind of circumstance.
    "The first outbreak was in Australia in 1935, which was associated with a meat plant. But 11 cases is a big outbreak."
    However, Prof Pennington said the risk to the general public was small.
    He said: "The organism can spread in the air but usually you need pretty close contact with an infected source. "For example, the bedding on which a sick animal has been resting. If you breathe in the dry dust from that you can get infected. So, I don't think people living in the immediate vicinity should be too worried."

  2. #2
    paulvegan
    Guest

    Default Re: Meat staff contract 'farm fever'

    Oh dear my heart bleeds for them
    sorry im in a foul mood.

  3. #3
    CATWOMAN sandra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Meat staff contract 'farm fever'

    I hope it doesn't have repercussions for the animals, when humans get infected with something from animals [usually their own fault] they tend to take it out on the animals.

  4. #4
    Hemlock's Avatar
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    Default Scottish meatworkers struck down!

    Shame innit? My heart bleeds for them!

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...al/5197646.stm
    Last edited by flutterby; Jul 20th, 2006 at 11:35 AM. Reason: this was the first post in a similar thread
    Silent but deadly :p

  5. #5

    Join Date
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    Default Re: Meat staff contract 'farm fever'

    Well I do honestly feel bad for them. Many of the folks that work at those plants have little if any option to work elsewhere and recieve low pay for their jobs. It's one thing to sit on your high horse because he stands on moral ground....that still doesn't make you a better person. Just a different person. How do you ever expect to affect change if you are negative and nasty towards those that hold different views? Is antagonism the way your parents taught you to teach someone something new/different? Then I feel sorry for you too.

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