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Hans Jørn Kolmos, professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, points to an imminent risk that mutated variants of the coronavirus will also spread from Blekinge mink farms. So far, crown buds have been found on ten farms in the Sölvesborg area.
– It’s 100 percent. It is inconceivable that mutated viruses do not spread from mink. Mutations happen all the time and the risk is obvious that a new group will emerge that could threaten all vaccine production in the world, he says in an interview with Blekinge Läns Tidning.
In Denmark, several variants of the mutated virus have spread to 214 people. Since it became clear that at least one of the variants, which infected eleven people, may be resistant to future coronavirus vaccines, the Danish authorities have decided to kill all minks. At the same time, severe restrictions have been introduced in the affected area in North Jutland.
– Learn from the mistakes of Denmark and eradicate minks as quickly as possible. You haven’t gotten that far with you yet, so maybe you have a chance to stop this in time, Hans Jørn Kolmos tells the newspaper.
Acting state epizootologist Karl Ståhl says he doesn’t know what the professor’s basis for his statements is.
Viruses always mutate, you are right about that, but the size of the mining industry in Sweden is nowhere near that of Denmark, the Netherlands, the United States or China, he emphasizes.
In Sweden, eradication of all mink is not planned, despite the fact that corona infection has now been found in ten mink farms. However, 80 percent of all Taminkas will die anyway. This is done every year in November.
Roughly 100,000 breeding animals will be able to live, but they won’t live as tightly packed and many of them will likely already be immune, according to Karl Ståhl.
– They will be able to maintain social distance in a completely different way than before. And just like for humans, if you keep your distance, the risk of spreading the infection is much lower.
At the same time, they are looking for possible mutations of the virus both in minks and in close people.
– I still think that we have a good view of the situation and we have information that allows us to reassess if necessary, says Karl Ståhl.
