Oregon state officials have confirmed that a mink infected with the coronavirus escaped from a farm that was kept in November following the impact on both mink and humans in November.
According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, a team of state biologists caught the fleeing mink on Dec. 13, and tested positive for low levels of the virus a week later.
Five opioids and two cats were also seized at the same time as the mink. None of the other animals tested positive for COVID-19.
“There is no evidence that SARS-Cavi-2 has spread or been established in the wild,” said Dr. R. Ryan Schulz, a veterinarian at the Reagan Department of Agriculture, in a statement.
“Nevertheless, we are taking this situation very seriously and maintaining surveys and traps close to the farm.”
Video: Denmark to slaughter 15 million mink raised due to coronavirus threat
State officials declined to disclose the location of the farm, citing medical privacy.
Animal welfare experts warn that farm-raised mink “has serious concerns about disease transmission and safety protocols.”
COVID-19: Infected dead tink emerges from graves after mass clearing
The outbreak could affect wildlife populations, said Jonathan Evans, legal director and attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, and could pose “new threats” to further COVID-19 mutation.
“With the nationwide boom in Covid-1, O Reagan officials should do more to increase the need for safety protocols for fur farms and to reduce and control disease outbreaks from fact farms and better report where the outbreak is.” USA Today.
In Denmark, where the first mink outbreak was reported, the entire population of the country was found to be mink populations, scrutiny and horror, resulting in mink “popping up” from shallow graves. A government official later resigned after taking charge of the situation.
Fortunately, officials confirmed that the mink on the Oregon farm had erupted in November. U.S. Department of Disease Control and Prevention Guided by the centers and the Food and Drug Administration, the farm orders a further round of testing before it is no longer under lockout.
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This article originally appeared on USA Today: Covid: Cor Regan Mink infected with coronavirus escaped from the farm
