Man who contracted monkeypox is meat inspector at slaughterhouse and exotic animal

[MORTARDUDE]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jun03/147871.asp

Man who contracted disease is meat inspector at Emmpak
From the Journal Sentinel
Last Updated: June 12, 2003
The owner of a South Milwaukee firm that distributes exotic animals, who was infected with the monkeypox virus, is a federal consumer safety inspector at the Emmpak slaughterhouse and meat processing plant, a U.S. official said.

Until May 23, Scott Knapp, owner of SK Exotics, was actively working as a line inspector at the Milwaukee plant, visually inspecting cow carcasses for contamination, said Steve Cohen of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Both Cohen and Mark Klein, director of communication for Excel, the parent company of Emmpak, said that Knapp's presence on the food line poses no risk to the food supply.

"You can't transmit monkeypox through food," said Cohen, who added that smallpox - a similar virus - also is unable to infect food.

"We follow good manufacturing processes," Klein said. "Things like personal hygiene, washing hands, washing boots and keeping things sanitary in the plant are a priority."

All 12 inspectors at the plant wear latex gloves, sterile smocks, hairnets and hard hats, said the officials.

Knapp left the plant May 23 in order to see a doctor about his flu-like symptoms, Cohen said. Knapp was diagnosed with monkeypox a few days later.