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Crown propagation on the mink farm is the first of its kind in Sweden. However, in the past, a large number of mink farms in both Denmark and the Netherlands have been affected by COVID-19.
The farm in question has had a certain mortality rate among its animals due to virus infection. But overall, mortality has been relatively low, reports the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
The infection was discovered after the dead animals were sent to SVA for sampling and analysis.
– Most minks infected with Sars-CoV-2 (the virus that causes covid-19 in humans) tend to contract a mild and transient illness. Currently, we see no reason to kill the animals in the infected herd, but it is subject to restrictions to prevent the spread of infection. However, these herds also tend to have very good infection control routines, so an additional safety measure should be considered. We also follow the situation in the other herds in Sweden, says Håkan Henrikson, chief veterinarian at the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
“It spreads rapidly from one animal to another”
Several people who work on the mink farm have also been found to be infected with the coronavirus.
It has not been determined whether there is any connection between the affected people and the animals. But according to the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the experience of both the Netherlands and Denmark shows that infection in people close to mink is the most important and most common source of infection.
– Once the infection has established itself in a herd, it spreads rapidly from one animal to another. The experience of the Netherlands and Denmark shows that there is also a risk that nearby herds will be affected, even if the routes of infection are not yet clear. The disease monitoring that has now started is necessary so that we can get an overview of the situation in Swedish mink, says Karl Ståhl, acting state epizootologist at SVA.
The Swedish Board of Agriculture writes in its press release that animal owners should pay special attention to abnormal morbidity and mortality among their animals and contact a veterinarian if detected.
