Investigation of risk of occupational infection with avian influenza virus in alive poultry markets in Chongqin

Objective To evaluate the risk of the occupational infection with avian influenza virus in alive poultry markets in Chongqing, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of the occupational infection with avian influenza virus. Methods Fourteen alive poultry markets were selected in 8 districts of Chongqing. A self-designed questionnaire was used and field survey was conducted to collect the information about the avian influenza prevention knowledge awareness and behaviors in workers engaged in poultry trade and the management of alive poultry markets. Results Among 96 alive poultry market workers, the awareness rate of avian influenza was 18.5%, the awareness rates of infection source, vaccine, high-risk groups, route of transmission and early symptoms were 41.9%, 21.3%, 10.4%, 7.3% and 5.2% respectively. Television program (94.8%) and internet (26.0%) were the main channels to learn about avian influenza related knowledge. The percentages of wearing of masks, gloves, protecting clothes and waterproof shoes while working were 5.2%, 13.1%, 28.7% and 45.2% respectively, Up to 91.7% of the workers surveyed washed hands after touching poultry. For medical care seeking, only 30.2% of them went to see doctors in hospitals and only 36.8% told doctors about their occupations actively. The alive poultry markets surveyed had no strict management system. Consumers could directly choose alive poultry. The positive rate of avian influenza virus in the market environmental samples was 34.7% (247/711) in 2014, the positive rates of H5 and H9 subtype viruses were 18.3% (130/711) and 16.5% (117/711) respectively. Conclusion No standardized management was conducted in the alive poultry market in Chongqing. Workers engaged in poultry trade had low awareness of knowledge about human infection with avian influenza virus. Due to the poor self-protection, they had relatively high risk to be infected with avian influenza virus.