High rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection in funeral home workers in Ecuador: Is it an occupational risk for COVID-19?

• Main Authors: Esteban Ortiz-Prado (Author), Jorge Eduardo Vásconez (Author), Alexander Paolo Vallejo-Janeta (Author), Diana Morales-Jadán (Author), Aquiles R. Henriquez-Trujillo (Author), Ismar A. Rivera-Olivero (Author), Felipe Andrade (Author), Tannya Lozada (Author), Miguel Angel Garcia-Bereguiain (Author), UDLA COVID-19 Team (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

AimThe COVID-19 outbreak has already caused more than 6.5 million deaths, overwhelming health systems worldwide. The unusual demand for funeral home services could make these workers a potential risk group for occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 associated with corpses management for COVID-19 patients.MethodologyThis is a cross-sectional study aimed to describe the infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in funeral home staff by testing them with RT-qPCR in Quito, Ecuador. A total of 232 funeral home workers, representing more than 40% of funeral home personnel in Quito, were included in the study, in June 2020, immediately after the population lockdown was lifted in Ecuador.ResultsA total of 48 individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, yielding an infection rate of 20.7%. The SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was 18.1 and 20.0% among personnel managing corpses or not managing corpses, respectively. Among the SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, 81.3% reported no symptoms related to COVID-19, and 3 individuals had high viral loads over 108 copies/ml.ConclusionThe high SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in funeral home staff suggested a potential occupational risk for COVID-19 but not related to corpses management. Public health guidelines for safe corpses management for COVID-19 victims and safe funeral services should be reinforced.

Item Description

2296-2565
10.3389/fpubh.2022.1012434