The Austin Daily Herald
Stricken QPP workers now 18
by MIA SIMPSON

“It’s an illness that has kind of defied explanation,” said Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. Daniel Lachance.

Lachance detailed his ongoing findings of the condition, classified as an immune polyradiculoneurophy or progressive inflammatory neuropathy, during a press conference Wednesday as part of the American Academy of Neurology’s 60th Annual Meeting in Chicago.

He and peripheral nerve disorder specialist Dr. P. James B. Dyck have thus far evaluated and diagnosed 18 individuals, all of whom have shown abnormalities across neurological and antibody tests, as well as varying levels of symptoms, such as pain, fatigue and weakness.

In Austin, all diagnosed worked at Quality Pork Processors, which up until December used air compressors at a “head table,” where workers extract brains from slaughtered pigs.

The theory, Lachance said, is that the compressors created a fine mist inhaled by contaminated employees, who did not wear respitatory equipment for protection.

“And it seems that the most likely culprit, or at least the most obvious, has been this brain harvesting processing,” Lachance said, adding that “whether there are other factors remains to be seen.”

“All we can really say is the statistical associations are highly convincing,” he said.

This association has been particularly important for workers seeking compensation benefits from QPP. Company president Kelly Wadding has said some have already been cleared for compensation. Lawyers representing some workers maintain that all have been denied thus far.

Since the story broke in December, two plants in Nebraska and Indiana have reported similar symptoms among their workers. Lachance said upwards of five from Indiana and one from Nebraska have been identified.

The three plants are the only ones that appear to use this harvesting process, according to Lachance, noting researchers consulted 25 major pork plants. Lachance added that other livestock outfits, such as cattle processors, do not utilize the procedure, and that, thus far, other countries that returned calls about this case have denied its use as well.

“This procedure seems to be an extremely uncommon procedure,” he said. QPP suspended the practice in December after health officials identified it as a possible cause.

The condition’s recent notoriety has compelled several others in Austin to come forward with sets of symptoms consistent with the original 12 individuals diagnosed in November 2007.

Lachance said QPP nurses and a Spanish interpretor from Austin Medical Center were the first to identify the problem among several Latino workers, and in turn contacted Austin Medical Center’s Dr. Richard Schlinder, who evaluated the employees and contacted Dr. Lachance.

Austin Medical Center immediately set up a hotline for any employees worried that they may be suffering the disorder, which primarily attacks nerves and nerve roots.

“It’s really a star with the Mayo Health System that we’ve been able to collaborate so well,” he said.

Thus far, none of those diagnosed have “fully recovered” from their condition, though all have improved or stabilized, Lachance said, though he couldn’t say whether the damage is permanent. Some of the patients have required only pain medication, while the most seriously ill have undergone drug treatments to suppress their immune systems.

Researchers continue to say that the general public is not at risk.

“It doesn’t appear that the slaughtered pigs have been ill,” said Dr. James Sejvar, a neuroepidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It doesn’t appear that this is in any way a foodborne illness. And it doesn’t appear as if this particular illness can be transmitted person to person.”

“It just remains to be determined whether there are will be new cases,” Lachance said.

The illness might have appeared as early as 2004, when Lachance evaluated a 22-year-old Austin woman with similar symptoms. She refused a spinal tap, however, and has since returned home to Mexico. He said a second patient, first seen in November 2005, is still being evaluated.

He said he and researchers are working to ascertain as much as they possibly can about the disorder, and are waiting to see whether more employees will come forward. They also are attempting to bring infected workers from other states in for further evaluation.

Lachance said he hopes that this condition will lead to better understanding of autoimmune illnesses, and, in turn, their triggers.