Hurricanes and Hog Farms: Impact on Gastrointestinal Illness in North Carolina
Author Information
Author(s): Quist Arbor J L, Fliss Mike Dolan, Richardson David B, Delamater Paul L, Engel Lawrence S
Primary Institution: The Ohio State University
Hypothesis
How do hurricanes and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) affect the rates of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) in North Carolina?
Conclusion
Areas with heavy hurricane precipitation and many hog CAFOs experienced increased rates of acute gastrointestinal illness after Hurricane Florence.
Supporting Evidence
- AGI ED rates increased by 15% in areas with heavy storm rain and >10 hog CAFOs after Hurricane Florence.
- Areas with heavy storm precipitation and no hog CAFOs showed no increase in AGI ED rates.
- Communities near hog CAFOs reported various health problems, including gastrointestinal issues.
Takeaway
When big storms hit areas with lots of pig farms, more people get sick with stomach problems. This is especially true for communities with many hog farms.
Methodology
The study used ZIP code-level disease surveillance data and interrupted time series methods to assess AGI rates after Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.
Potential Biases
The demographics of areas with many hog CAFOs and heavy rain were different from those without, which could affect ED usage patterns.
Limitations
The study could not determine how heavy storm precipitation specifically compromised hog CAFOs and lagoons, and demographic differences between areas limited causal analysis.
Participant Demographics
Areas with heavy storm precipitation and >10 hog CAFOs had a higher proportion of Black, American Indian, and Hispanic residents and lower annual household incomes than state averages.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.04, 1.27
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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