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The only primary study proposing evidence of human infection by SARS2 (covid-19) from frozen fish packaging is a Nov 2020 paper by the Chinese CDC. It was cited by Shi Zhengli in her recent perspectives in @ScienceMagazine as evidence suggesting cold chain transmission of covid..
Chinese CDC article says that there have been sporadic outbreaks in 8 locations in China since the original Wuhan outbreak was controlled.
In Sep 2020, two port workers in Qingdao tested positive for covid (asymptomatic)... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7676848/
In Sep 2020, two port workers in Qingdao tested positive for covid (asymptomatic)... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7676848/
Although another article by Qingdao researchers, published in @NEJM on Dec 3 2020, said "They had no history of travel or contact with anyone confirmed to have Covid-19, but they may have contracted the virus from ship workers or contaminated cargo" https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2032361
The paper by the Chinese CDC said "The successful SARS-CoV-2 virus isolation from the seafood packaging surface proves that the imported virus that re-infected humans and caused the outbreaks through cold-chain transportation is all possible."
@ScienceMagazine article went on to cite the Chinese CDC: "SARS-CoV-2 can survive up to 3 weeks in meat and on the surface of cold food packages without losing infectivity.. SARS-CoV-2–infected animals or food packaging contaminated by SARS-CoV-2 could be a source of.. infection"
Problematically, we have no insight to the 2 Qingdao port worker's exposure to ship crews from other countries or commonly used objects that they may have handled, e.g., ropes, paperwork etc. Whether they had to help with ship maintenance?
It's true that port workers are probably exposed to more frozen imports than the regular civilian. But guess what?
They're also more exposed to foreign workers, common objects and surfaces that were very recently handled by foreign workers on ships.
They're also more exposed to foreign workers, common objects and surfaces that were very recently handled by foreign workers on ships.
It would be like saying that Uber drivers are getting infected by touching the seat belts in their cars.
Yea, sure, drivers get exposed to more seat belts than the regular person. But guess what? They're also exposed to more people getting in their cars.
Yea, sure, drivers get exposed to more seat belts than the regular person. But guess what? They're also exposed to more people getting in their cars.
Does it mean that all seat belt factories must now allow video camera inspection of their seat belt manufacturing or that inspectors are sent in to lay all the seat belts down on the floor and spray them with disinfectants?
The paper says that out of 400+ surface samples from the frozen fish, 50 had SARS2 genetic material and only 1 sample, after desperate efforts, was able to produce what looked like cytopathic effects (Fig 1). Not isolated virus. Just a picture of cells dying.
The study sequenced the viruses and found they originated from a European lineage (the virus went from Wuhan to Europe and mutated into this lineage B1.1).
Guess what. This lineage is basically all over the world right now. You got a ship coming in, probably got B1 on it.
Guess what. This lineage is basically all over the world right now. You got a ship coming in, probably got B1 on it.
Still, the study "concluded that the COVID-19 outbreak of Qingdao was probably caused by SARS-CoV-2 contamination of cod outer package during production or cold-chain transportation"
Not from ship workers handling imports or contacting the port workers through common objects.
Not from ship workers handling imports or contacting the port workers through common objects.
"we should strengthen the inspection and quarantine of imported cold-chain food"
Ok sure. Lock down the frozen cod.
Ok sure. Lock down the frozen cod.
But what're you going to do about this apparently indestructible virus that retains 100% functionality despite being sprayed on pork or fish and left at 4 deg Celsius for 3 weeks XD https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.17.255166v1
I just can't. This is too ridiculous. Anyone storing virus on raw fish or pork at 4 degrees Celsius and expecting a 100% return on functionality...
This virus is either more powerful than we thought or...
This virus is either more powerful than we thought or...
