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Millions of minks are expected to be euthanized after a coronavirus mutation was discovered in more than 200 Danish mink farms.
Officially, so far a total of 12 people have been infected on farms, mainly in the northern part of the country, but Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said he believed that, in fact, half of the 783 human cases of COVID-19 in northern Denmark were “related”. to the mink.
And Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said there are now fears that the new mutated virus poses a “risk to the efficacy” of a future COVID-19 vaccine.
“It’s very, very serious,” Ms Frederiksen added. “Therefore, the virus mutated in mink can have devastating consequences around the world.”
Denmark is one of the world’s leading mink fur exporters, producing approximately 17 million fur per year.
A total of 207 mink farms have been infected
Kopenhagen Fur, a cooperative of 1,500 Danish breeders, accounts for 40% of the world’s mink production. Most of its exports go to China and Hong Kong.
The Danish government is backing the slaughter as a way to minimize the risk of more coronavirus being relayed to humans.
According to government estimates, culling the country’s 15 million minks could cost up to 5 billion kronor (£ 605 million).
But the national police chief, Thorkild Fogde, said it should happen “as soon as possible.”
Danish Food Minister Mogens Jensen said 207 farms were infected, up from 41 last month, and the disease has spread to the entire western peninsula of Jutland.
The country has recorded 50,530 confirmed COVID-19 infections and 729 related deaths.
Perhaps surprisingly, the animal welfare group Humane Society International applauded the prime minister for taking “such an essential and science-based step to protect Danish citizens.”
His hope is that losing so many minks to the coronavirus will put fur farms out of business.
Humane Society International-Europe spokeswoman Joanna Swabe said: “Although the deaths of millions of minks, whether they are slaughtered for COVID-19 or slaughtered for fur, is a tragedy for animal welfare.
“Fur producers will now have a clear opportunity to get away from this cruel and dying industry and choose a more humane and sustainable livelihood.”
