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Bulgarian health authorities said on Friday (November 6) that they have ordered massive PCR tests for COVID-19 on people in the vicinity of the two mink farms in the country, following the recent mink-related health scare in Denmark. The Chief State Health Inspector Angel Kunchev announced the news exclusively to EURACTIV Bulgaria.
The initiative came after Denmark’s announcement that minks had been infected with the coronavirus, which mutates in them and is later transmitted to humans. The newly mutated virus has the potential to compromise the effects of vaccines currently in development.
The largest mink farm in Bulgaria is located in the village of Madjerito, near Stara Zagora. Until last year, 130,000 minks were raised there annually. Its skin is exported at a price between 25 and 30 euros per unit.
Bulgarians became aware of the existence of mink farms after an illegal mass grave of skinned minks was discovered near Sliven in east-central Bulgaria last summer. The authorities never found who was behind the gruesome act, which also threatened the environment in the area. Television footage has shown appalling breeding conditions at a nearby mink farm.
In late 2019, a bill aimed at banning the raising of animals whose meat is not consumed was introduced, but it was not adopted. However, in the wake of the pandemic, mink is proving to be a serious problem.
On Thursday, it became clear that Denmark will euthanize 17 million minks due to a mutation in the coronavirus in animals, which is also transmitted to humans. These strains show reduced sensitivity to antibodies, potentially reducing the effectiveness of future vaccines. That is why the country announced on Thursday new and strict blocking rules in the north of the country.
For Denmark’s mink fur industry, which racked up exports of around $ 800 million last year and employs 4,000 people, the sacrifice could amount to a death sentence. The Danish breeders’ industry association called the move a “black day for Denmark.”
UK Transport Minister Grant Shapps said on Friday (Nov 6) that people arriving in the country from Denmark will need to isolate themselves for 14 days, starting on Saturday, as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]
