COVID-19 Outbreaks Linked to Imported Frozen Food in China: Status and Challege.
China CDC Wkly
; 4(22): 483-487, 2022 Jun 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1879864
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA contamination was reported on China's imported frozen foods and packaging materials. However, there was no evidence of this disease initiated by environment-to-human transmission until the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Beijing in June 2020. This article aimed to analyze and summarize COVID-19 outbreaks related to cold-chain foods to provide a scientific basis for tracing the epidemiological trajectory of the pandemic, providing risk assessments, and mitigation policies. Overall, 37 COVID-19 outbreaks and 5,741 infected cases were reported within the study period. It was found that 7 outbreaks and 689 cases were linked to imported frozen foods. The first index case among the 7 outbreaks was exposed to SARS-CoV-2-contaminated outer packaging of frozen food, triggering the subsequent community transmission. This study supported the speculation that cold-chain foods act as a pathway for SARS-CoV-2 and might present a risk for virus transmission between countries and regions. Handlers and processors exposed to the imported frozen foods should be effectively self-protected, daily monitored for clinical manifestations of COVID-19, and tested for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid at regular intervals.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
China CDC Wkly
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ccdcw2022.072
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