[ad_1]
Greater than 15,00zero mink within the United States have died of the coronavirus since August, and authorities are conserving a couple of dozen farms underneath quarantine whereas they examine the circumstances, state agriculture officers mentioned.
World well being officers are eying the animals as a possible threat for individuals after Denmark launched into a plan to cull all of its 17 million mink. Amid rising political opposition, the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, admitted the cull she authorised final week was unlawful.
The US states of Utah, Wisconsin and Michigan – the place the coronavirus has killed mink – mentioned they don’t plan to cull animals and are monitoring the state of affairs in Denmark.
“We imagine that quarantining affected mink farms along with implementing stringent biosecurity measures will achieve controlling SARS-CoV-2 at these areas,” the US Division of Agriculture instructed Reuters on Tuesday.
The USDA mentioned it’s working with the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, state officers and the mink trade to check and monitor contaminated farms.
The USA has 359,850 mink bred to provide infants, often called kits, and produced 2.7 million pelts final yr. Wisconsin is the most important mink-producing state, adopted by Utah.
Sick mink in Wisconsin and Utah had been uncovered to individuals with possible or confirmed Covid-19 circumstances, the USDA mentioned. In Michigan it’s nonetheless unknown if the mink had been contaminated by people, based on the company.
In Utah, the primary US state to verify mink infections in August, about 10,700 mink have died on 9 farms, mentioned Dean Taylor, state veterinarian. “On all 9, every little thing continues to be suggesting a one-way journey from individuals to the minks,” he mentioned. Coronavirus testing has been performed on mink that die and randomly on the affected farms, Taylor mentioned. Like individuals, some mink are asymptomatic or mildly affected, he mentioned.
The CDC mentioned it was supporting states’ investigations into sick mink, together with testing of animals and other people.
These investigations will assist us to be taught extra concerning the transmission dynamics between mink, different animals across the farms and other people. At the moment, there is no such thing as a proof that animals play a major function within the unfold of SARS-CoV-2 to individuals.
In Wisconsin, about 5,00zero mink have died on two farms, State Veterinarian Darlene Konkle mentioned. One farm is composting the useless mink to eliminate the carcasses with out spreading the virus, Konkle mentioned. Authorities are working with the second farm to find out the right way to eliminate the mink, and useless animals are being saved in a steel container within the meantime, she mentioned.
Michigan declined to reveal what number of mink have died, citing privateness guidelines.
US authorities are urging farmers to put on protecting gear like masks and gloves when dealing with mink to keep away from infecting the animals.
State officers mentioned they’re working with the USDA to find out whether or not farmers can promote the pelts of contaminated mink. The pelts are used to make fur coats and different objects.
“It’s our want and positively the homeowners’ want to have the ability to use these pelts,” Konkle mentioned.
The coronavirus has additionally contaminated cats, canine, a lion and a tiger, based on the USDA. Consultants say mink seem like essentially the most prone animal to date. Taylor mentioned:
No matter we study mink goes to assist perceive the virus throughout species. It’s going to offer us a greater response to individuals to cease this pandemic.
[ad_2]
Source link