Recently, large quantities of virus sampling tubes were found in the waters near Zhuning Port in Zhuzhou, Hunan, causing panic among the public.
According to a video released by mainland netizens on November 17, the virus sampling tubes were labeled with “Hetang District,” and the words “inactivated type” and “Type I” could be seen on them, dated back to 2022. Netizens speculated that “these should be sampling tubes collected during the pandemic.”
The incident sparked fear among the public. Many netizens expressed concerns, saying, “Changsha downstream drinks water from the Xiang River!” “Money was spent on harmless treatment, but thrown into the mountains?” “How can you guarantee the safety of the water people drink when you throw virus sampling tubes into the Xiang River?” “I’m afraid it’s poisoning.” “I live in Zhuzhou, and it feels like doomsday for me.” “I knew something was wrong again.” “Can anyone tell me if I can live until the day of retirement insurance, still got over ten years at 58.”
On the evening of November 18, the Zhuzhou City Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Supervision Bureau reported that after investigation, a total of 45 tubes were collected. The tubes were all properly sealed, in an unused state, undamaged, and virus-free. The batch of tubes has now been sealed for preservation.
The official announcement raised doubts among netizens, “Why throw away something good?” “The tubes have been sealed for preservation and not destroyed, does this indicate a problem?” “These were found, what if there are still undiscovered ones?”
Some netizens commented, “They dare not report if the tubes were opened.” “It’s highly likely to be falsely reported to avoid causing panic.” “This is not a minor issue; it’s a very serious public health incident and must be thoroughly investigated to trace the source.”
Dr. Dong Yuhong told NTD that this Type I inactivated sampling tube is generally used for COVID-19 and flu viruses; if used tubes are thrown by the river, it could lead to severe consequences. “If it flows downstream, it can contaminate the entire river due to water transmission.”
Ms. Meng, a doctor from mainland China, also emphasized that used sampling tubes must be disposed of as medical waste following proper procedures and should never be mixed with regular trash to avoid secondary infection.
The discovery of virus sampling tubes in the water near Zhuning Port has raised concerns and triggered discussions among netizens, highlighting the importance of proper handling and disposal of medical materials to safeguard public health and prevent environmental contamination.