Presence of SARS-CoV-2 on food surfaces and public space surfaces in three districts of Lima, Peru

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on food surfaces and surfaces in public spaces in 3 districts of Lima, Peru. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in three districts of the Lima metropolitan area. Surfaces that were most exposed to users were selected. Samples were swabbed for 4 weeks and transported to the laboratory to determine the presence of the virus. One thousand ninety-five inert surface samples and 960 food surface samples were evaluated for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 by the real time-PCR molecular test, whereby only one sample from an automated teller machine was positive. Most of the inert and food surfaces evaluated did not show the presence of SARS-CoV-2 during the time of sample collection. Despite the negative results, the frequency of disinfection and hygiene measures on high-contact surfaces should be maintained and increased to prevent other highly contagious infectious diseases.

Common and Potential Emerging Foodborne Viruses: A Comprehensive Review

“…In a large survey in China, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 1455 frozen food-related samples (1398 samples of foods/food packaging and 52 samples of storage environments) out of the 55.83 million samples collected [222]. However, SARS-CoV-2 was only detected in one sample (automated teller machine) out of 2055 surfaces in public spaces and food surfaces in Lima, Peru [223]. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in 9354 cold-chain food-related environmental samples (4708 dining utensils, 1933 supermarket environment, 1543 food freezers or fish tanks, 1032 fire or sewer hydrants, and 138 clothing batches of food workers) collected in Xiangyang in China.…”