China finds coronavirus cluster in major chicken processing plant | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

China finds coronavirus cluster in major chicken processing plant

Reuters | , Beijing
Jan 22, 2021 01:48 PM IST

Meatpacking workers in the United States, Brazil and across Europe were among the groups hit hardest by Covid-19 last year.

China reported its first cluster of Covid-19 cases among workers in a meat processing plant, raising fears among local consumers who have until now mainly worried about the safety of imported foods.

Police officers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) stand guard near the Zhaotong Road neighborhood, placed under lockdown due to Covid-19 cases, in Shanghai, China, on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Residents of an area of�Shanghai�have been banned from leaving the city after six Covid cases were found in the finance hub, the first cases there in almost two months. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg(Bloomberg)
Police officers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) stand guard near the Zhaotong Road neighborhood, placed under lockdown due to Covid-19 cases, in Shanghai, China, on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Residents of an area of�Shanghai�have been banned from leaving the city after six Covid cases were found in the finance hub, the first cases there in almost two months. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg(Bloomberg)

Ten confirmed cases were found in a factory which slaughters 50 million chickens a year in the northeastern city of Harbin and is owned by Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand, one of the world's top poultry producers.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Another 28 workers at the plant and three family members were asymptomatic, officials told a news briefing on Thursday.

While China repeatedly pointed to imported frozen meat and fish as the source of coronavirus cases last year, it has not reported significant clusters in its own food processing sector.

Meatpacking workers in the United States, Brazil and across Europe were among the groups hit hardest by Covid-19 last year, with thousands of slaughterhouse staff infected.

The cluster in the C.P. plant was detected as part of routine screening of people in the region, which has seen a surge in cases in recent weeks.

Samples taken from inside the slaughterhouse, its cold storage area and the outside of product packaging during inspections earlier this week had also been found positive for the virus, city officials said.

The factory could not be reached for comment on the outbreak. Two executives involved in the group's chicken business declined to comment and referred Reuters to the headquarters, which could not be reached.

News of the outbreak was trending on China's Twitter-like platform Weibo, with some netizens urging others not to eat CP products.

Some said community officials had already ordered a recall of the factory's products. Reuters was unable to confirm.

CP is one of China's top chicken processors and also a well-known brand of eggs and other processed foods.

The World Health Organization has said people should not fear food or food packaging during the pandemic.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On