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. 2023 Dec;25(6):1295-1301.
doi: 10.1007/s10903-023-01517-x. Epub 2023 Aug 28.

COVID-19 Testing of United States-Bound Agricultural Workers in Mexico

Jessica Teleaga  1   2 , Zachary A White  3 , Joaquin Cervantes  4 , Roberto Assael  4 , Gerardo Barrera  4 , Sean Toney  3 , Nina Marano  3 , Alfonso Rodriguez Lainz  3 , Chantal Assael  4 , Alexandra Ortega  5 , Courtney G Chappelle  3 , Nirma Bustamante  3 , Kathleen Moser  3 , Drew L Posey  3
Affiliations

COVID-19 Testing of United States-Bound Agricultural Workers in Mexico

Jessica Teleaga et al. J Immigr Minor Health. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic presents global health, welfare, and economic concerns. The agricultural workforce has experienced adverse effects, placing the U.S. food supply at risk. Agricultural workers temporarily travel to the United States on H-2A visas to supplement the agricultural workforce. Approximately 300,000 agricultural workers enter the United States with H-2A visas each year; over 90.0% are from Mexico. During February-May 2021, a COVID-19 testing pilot was performed with Clínica Médica Internacional (CMI), a clinic that performs medical examinations for US-bound immigrants, to determine the SARS-CoV-2 infection status of H-2A agricultural workers in Mexico before entry to the US. The CerTest VIASURE Real Time PCR Detection Kit was used. Participants' demographic information, test results, and testing turnaround times were collected. Workers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 completed isolation before US entry. During the pilot, 1195 H-2A workers were tested; 15 (1.3%) tested positive. Average reporting time was 31 h after specimen collection. This pilot demonstrated there is interest from H-2A employers and agents in testing the H-2A community before US entry. Testing for SARS-CoV-2 can yield public health benefit, is feasible, and does not delay entry of temporary agricultural workers to the US.

Keywords: Agricultural workers; COVID-19; H-2A visa; Migration; Testing.

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Conflict of interest statement

There is no conflict of interest or, alternatively, disclosing any conflict of interest that may exist.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number of H-2A Workers Tested by State of Residence
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of H-2A Workers Tested by Location and Month
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Number of H-2A COVID-19 Positive Cases by State of Residence
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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