Dairy farming requires close contact between people and animals, with transmissions that can be a source of zoonotic disease. The development of evidence-based best practices for managing transmission of microorganisms in the farm environment could help dairy production minimize risks to workers, livestock, and the general public.
There is evidence that such microbial transmission can lead to infection in both workers and cows when zoonotic pathogens are exchanged. In contrast, some evidence suggests that microbial exposures on farms may have beneficial aspects to human health. To explore the degree of microbial sharing taking place on dairy farms, we performed a survey of Staphylococcal species in a sample of dairy workers, cows, and their shared dairy farm environments in a “One Health” model.
Outcomes
This study developed methods for simultaneously assessing the health of humans, of animals, and of the environment within animal agriculture settings using an interdisciplinary human health including industrial hygiene and veterinary health field team approach. Wide dissemination of the project results and the educational brochure (in English and Spanish) by our Dairy industry partners throughout Washington State, including at agricultural safety and health events reaching producers, workers and healthcare providers. The brochure was pretested with both English and Spanish-speaking dairy workers in Washington State prior to its publication and dissemination. This project has led to a new 5-year NIOSH-funded study at PNASH, entitled “Healthy Dairy Worker Study."
Partners and Advisories
- Washington State Dairy Federation
- Dairy Products Commission
- WSU Dairy Agricultural Extension Service
Products
Brochure: Dairy Farming - Hygiene and Health
Principal Investigator: Peter Rabinowitz, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
University of Washington
PNASH Pilot Project 2013-2015
Projects
The Health Dairy Worker Study