Limiting worker exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza a (H5N1): a repeat survey at a rendering plant processing infected poultry carcasses in the UK.

Background: Current occupational and public health guidance does not distinguish between rendering plant workers and cullers/poultry workers in terms of infection risk in their respective roles during highly pathogenic avian influenza poultry outbreaks. We describe an operational approach to human health risk assessment decision making at a large rendering plant processing poultry carcasses stemming from two separate highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreaks in England during 2007.

Methods: During the first incident a uniform approach assigned equal exposure risk to all rendering workers in or near the production line.

Comparing the information experience of women invited for cervical screening for the first time in 1994 with 2001.

We compared the information experience of women invited to attend cervical screening for the first time in 1994 and 2001 using postal questionnaires. Compared to 1994, women in 2001: found the invitation letter less easy to understand; were not aware of alternative venues for the test; and waited >4 weeks before receiving their results. Negative information experiences may influence attendance.