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Workplace
Short report
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among firefighters in Los Angeles, California
  1. Karen Mulligan1,2,
  2. Anders H Berg3,
  3. Marc Eckstein4,
  4. Acacia Hori5,
  5. Anna Rodriguez1,2,
  6. Kimia Sobhani3,
  7. Omar Toubat5,
  8. Neeraj Sood1,2
  1. 1 Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
  2. 2 Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
  3. 3 Department of Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
  4. 4 Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles, California, USA
  5. 5 University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Karen Mulligan, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; karenmul{at}usc.edu

Abstract

Objective We estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among a sample of firefighters in the Los Angeles (LA), California fire department in October 2020 and compare demographic and contextual factors for seropositivity.

Methods We conducted a serological survey of firefighters in LA, California, USA, in October 2020. Individuals were classified as seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 if they tested positive for IgG, IgM or both. We compared demographic and contextual factors for seropositivity.

Results All firefighters in LA, California, USA were invited to participate in our study, but only roughly 21% participated. Of 713 participants with valid serological data, 8.8% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and among the 686 with complete survey data 8.9% tested positive for antibodies. Seropositivity was not associated with gender, age or race/ethnicity. Seropositivity was highest among firefighters who reported working in the vicinity of LA International Airport, which had a known outbreak in July 2020.

Conclusions Seroprevalence among firefighters in our sample was 8.8%, however, we lack a full workplace seroprevalence estimate to compare the relative magnitude against general population seroprevalence (15%). Workplace safety protocols, such as access to personal protective equipment and testing, can mitigate increased risk of infection at work, and may have eliminated differences in disease burden by geography and race/ethnicity in our sample.

  • COVID-19
  • firefighters

Data availability statement

No data are available. In order to protect the privacy of study participates, data cannot be be made publicly available.

This article is made freely available for personal use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2021-107805

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    Data availability statement

    No data are available. In order to protect the privacy of study participates, data cannot be be made publicly available.

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors All authors were involved in the conceptualisation and design of the study. AHB, AH, KM, ME, KS, NS and OT were responsible for acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the data. ABH, KM and OT drafted the manuscript, and all authors reviewed and provided critical revisions. AR was responsible for project administration. NS obtained funding and provided supervision for this study. Guarantor: NS

    • Funding Supported by the Rockefeller Foundation (2020 HTH 032), Conrad N. Hilton Foundation (26318), Abbott Diagnostics (NA), Burns and Allen Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre (NA) and Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti, City of Los Angeles (C-137679).

    • Disclaimer The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

    • Competing interests NS reported receiving funding and in-kind support from Burns and Allen Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Mayor’s Office City of Los Angeles, Rockefeller Foundation, Abbott Diagnostics and Conrad R. Hilton Foundation for the study.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.