Covid, from mink to man: why mutation worries

Published on: 05/11/2020 8:11 PM

The images of mink sacrifices in Denmark are impressive. But speaking of a mutation that would have allowed the Coronavirus to pass from these mammals to humans was the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, according to whom the mutated virus represents a “risk to efficacy” of a future vaccine against Covid-19. Denmark, recalls the BBC online, is the world’s largest producer of mink fur and its main export markets are China and Hong Kong.

The slaughter began late last month after many cases of infected mink were detected. Since the start of the pandemic in Europe, cases of coronavirus have also been detected in farmed minks in the Netherlands and Spain. But the cases are spreading rapidly in Denmark, where at least they would have been found. five cases of the new viral strain. Twelve people were infected with it.authorities said. Frederiksen cited a government report according to which the mutated virus was found to weaken the body’s ability to form antibodies, making Potentially ineffective vaccines in development for Covid-19. “We have a great responsibility towards our own population, but with this mutation we have an even greater responsibility towards the rest of the world,” he said at a press conference.

Covid, WHO: “Virus seems mutated, mink infection in Denmark”

More than 50 million minks are raised per year for their fur, mainly in China, Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland. Outbreaks have been reported on fur farms in the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Sweden and the United States, and millions of animals have been culled. Minks, like their close ferret relatives, are known to be susceptible to the coronavirus and, like humans, can present a variety of symptoms, including pneumonia.

Covid, “the virus mutates and Denmark kills 17 million minks”

Mink becomes infected with humans. But genetic research work would have shown that in a small number of cases, in the Netherlands and now in Denmark, the virus would have taken the opposite route: from mink to man. The big concern for public health is that any mutation could undermine the effectiveness of vaccines, so much so that some scientists are now calling for a total ban on mink production. However, studies are currently underway to find out how and why minks were able to spread the infection.