The prevalence of virus warts on the hands of 196 employees of a large
meat-processing factory in northern Italy was 17.8 %. Production work
ers, who constantly handle meat, were significantly more often affecte
d (29.7 %) than those who did not handle meat (packagers 11.8 %) or th
ose of the control group of clerical and service staff (2.7 %). The re
sults of the therapy and prevention program are presented and risk fac
tors for wart spreading are discussed.