November 25, 2020

Tianjin, China reports COVID-19 infection from imported swine heads

A health official from Tianjin city confirmed two COVID-19 cases this month, caught from swine heads imported from North America, Reuters reported.

According to state media, the Tianjin infection was an asymptomatic case. But on November 24, a Tianjin health official said there two confirmed COVID-19 cases earlier this month were infected by the virus through the handling of swine heads imported from North America.

Zhang Ying, an official from the Tianjin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a press conference that authorities have not tested the swine heads for COVID-19 coronavirus traces.

However, Zhang said samples from the area where the swine heads fell as they were being shipped out of storage did test positive for the virus, with a similar strain to the two infected workers. Both workers were exposed to the swine heads.

Earlier this month, Tianjin authorities said they will conduct tests on cold storage facilities and workers after a COVID-19 case was confirmed from a worker who handled imported German frozen pork.

China said it has detected COVID-19 coronavirus traces in imported meat and packaging.

- Reuters