Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Transmission corona virus through frozen food still a question. Most recently, China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just confirmed the existence of the causative corona virus Covid-19 on the outer packaging of frozen fish.
The findings were announced after a period of investigation to trace the source of the infection in Qingdao City. The results show that contact with frozen food packaging contaminated with the active corona virus can cause infection.
“This is the first time in the world the discovery of a corona virus that is still active in the outer packaging of frozen food,” the Chinese CDC said, quoting Xinhua.
However, the CDC said that the risk of contracting the corona virus through frozen food was still very low.
The transmission of the corona virus through frozen food is still a debate. Experts agree that although the virus may still be found in frozen food, it can no longer cause infection.
“Until now, there was no evidence of transmission from packaging, especially frozen food packaging,” said epidemiologist George Mason University, United States, Amira Roess, citing Healthline.
The number of viruses found in frozen food packaging, continued Roess, is not sufficient to pose a risk of infection for humans.
The same thing was revealed by microbiologist Rodney Rohde. He said that viruses cannot reproduce outside the host cell, like humans.
“Unlike bacteria, viruses can stay alive on surfaces for hours or days. However, they cannot reproduce, and thus eventually die and do not cause infection,” Rohde said.
In other words, the virus becomes fragile when outside the host. Outside, said Rohde, the virus is prone to drying out due to exposure to UV rays and temperature changes.
“Although the risk is not zero, it is [risiko penularan lewat makanan beku] very low, “said Rohde.
Previously, a study in Singapore of salmon, chicken and pork chunks found the presence of the corona virus in frozen food. The virus is even said to survive in frozen meat and fish for up to three weeks.
“Imports of contaminated food and food packaging could be a source of transmission,” wrote the researchers in August.
However, researchers still say that frozen food is not the main route of transmission of the corona virus. Washing your hands frequently and thoroughly disinfecting anything, including frozen food packaging, is still the best thing you can do to be aware of the potential for infection.
(asr)
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