COVID-19: a new burden of respiratory disease among South African miners?
Curr Opin Pulm Med
; 27(2): 79-87, 2021 03 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1109364
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Mineworkers in South Africa experience a triple burden of disease due to their distinct work experience. Silicosis increases their risk of tuberculosis (TB), exacerbated by the HIV epidemic. Work-related factors are likely to increase transmission, severity, and post infection sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Understanding these relationships is important to control the impact of the epidemic. RECENT FINDINGS:
SARS-CoV-2 infection rates among mineworkers exceed the population rates in the provinces in which those mines are located. Migrant work, living in crowded hostels, working in narrow poorly ventilated shafts mainly underground constitute important factors that increase transmission risk. Mineworkers continue to experience high levels of silica exposure. The prevalences of silicosis, HIV and pulmonary TB, remain high. Interstitial lung disease, pulmonary TB, and HIV have all been associated with poorer outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Mineworkers with post infection respiratory sequelae are likely to lose their jobs or lose income, due to the physically demanding nature of underground minework.SUMMARY:
Further research into the unique work-related risk factors in mining that influence the COVID-19 epidemic is crucial for optimizing current interventions. Reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection transmission, health monitoring of infected and vulnerable workers, and following up of postinfection outcomes is essential to protect the respiratory health of miners.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Miners
/
COVID-19
/
Occupational Diseases
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
Curr Opin Pulm Med
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS