Respirable Aerosol Production and Reduction of Avian Influenza Transmission Risk During Chicken

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In Bangladesh, influenza A(H5N1) viruses are endemic in poultry. Processing infected chickens can aerosolize viruses, increasing the risk for human infections.

We evaluated particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) mass concentration during slaughtering and defeathering methods used in live bird markets in Bangladesh to identify solutions to reduce aerosol exposure. We slaughtered 675 chickens using cones and barrels with 3 lid types and defeathered 45 chickens using a defeathering machine with 5 lid types.

We interviewed 3 slaughterers to understand method preference. For slaughtering, barrels with a solid or star-cut lid reduced PM 2.5 mass concentrations by 65%–73% compared with uncovered barrels.

For defeathering, machines fully covered by a solid lid or lid with a hole and pivot door reduced PM 2.5 mass concentrations by 50% compared with machines with no lid. Slaughterers preferred barrels covered with solid lids and defeathering machines covered with solid or hinged lids.