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The World Health Organization is studying biosecurity in mink farms in countries around the world after Denmark ordered the slaughter of all mink animals, after the Corona virus appeared among them.
Maria Van Kerkhove, chief technical expert on coronavirus at the World Health Organization, told a news conference in Geneva on Friday that the transmission of the virus between animals and humans is “a cause for concern,” but added that “Mutations (in viruses) are normal. Changes in the virus are something we’ve been following from the beginning.”
A second WHO expert said the risk in other animals is much lower than in mink.
“We are working with regional offices … in areas where the mink farms are located, and we are looking at biosecurity to prevent proliferation,” Van Kerkhove said.
Mink
Denmark said this week that it intended to euthanize all its mink animals and announced new and strict isolation measures in the north of the country to prevent the spread of the mutated virus from animal to human.
Van Kerkhove said Denmark’s decision to euthanize minks is aimed at preventing the emergence of a “new animal reservoir for this virus.”
FAO emergency expert Mike Ryan told the same news conference that other farm animals such as pigs and poultry are subject to “very strict” biosecurity to prevent viruses from jumping across species barriers.
Expressive
Denmark’s Serum Institute, which deals with infectious diseases, has monitored mink-associated Corona virus strains in 214 people since June, according to a report published by the institute on its website that was updated on Thursday.
More than a quarter of a million Danes were subject to lockdown restrictions on Friday in the country’s northern region, where a mutated type of Corona virus infected mink animals that were raised for their fur, prompting an order to kill million animals.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said this step came to contain the virus and came two days after the government ordered the execution of the 15 million mink animals, which were raised in 1,139 from your farms in Denmark.
In 7 municipalities in northern Denmark with a population of approximately 280,000, sporting and cultural activities were suspended, public transport stopped and regional borders closed. Only people with so-called “vital jobs”, such as the police, health officials and various authorities, can cross municipal borders.
Mink
People in the area have been urged to get tested. Starting on Saturday, restaurants should close and students in fifth grade and up will transition to distance education starting Monday.
“We must get rid of this mutated virus completely,” Health Minister Magnus Hyunik said Thursday, adding that the mutated virus was found in 12 people; 11 in northern Denmark and one in western Denmark.
Last month, Denmark began slaughtering millions of mink animals in the north of the country, after COVID-19 cases were reported on farms there. Nationally, there have been infections in at least 216 of the 1,139 fur farms in Denmark.
The coronavirus is constantly evolving and, as of now, there is no evidence that any of the mutations pose an increased risk to people.
Kar Moelback of the Statens Serum Institute, a government agency that monitors the coronavirus in Denmark, said that the virus mutation was recorded in August and September, and no mutations have been found since then, so it is not known if it is “yet Present”.
Denmark, the world’s largest exporter of mink fur, produces approximately 17 million fur a year.
Copenhagen Für, a cooperative association of 1,500 Danish breeders, is credited with producing 40% of the world’s mink fur. Most of its exports go to China and Hong Kong.
Danish stuffed animals owners said the execution could spell the end of industrialization in the country.
