Pius A. Okiki, Wilson E. Edafiadhe and Anthony O. Ogbimi
Vegetable workers were assessed for the prevalence of physical and psychological ill-health, symptoms associated with avian influenza (AI), as well as, their awareness of AI pandemic threat, using structured questionnaire. Vegetable workers reported significantly higher symptoms of physical ill health than control (P = 0.002). Symptoms associated with flu in humans such as fever, headache, extreme tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny / stuffy nose, muscle ache, nausea, vomiting were highly prevalent among vegetable workers. There was however no significant difference in symptoms of anxiety and depression reported between vegetable workers and control populace. The knowledge of AI risk among vegetable workers was very poor. Unhygienic practices such as application of manure without protective coverings such as nose masks as well as bathing with manure contaminated well water which exposed them to AI risk, were reported among the vegetable workers.
