<p>The Polish agriculture ministry said on Saturday that a strain&nbsp;of the coronavirus discovered in mink on a farm in northern parts of the country can be transmitted to humans and vice versa.</p>

<p>COVID-19 was found in mink in Kartuzy county late last month, in what agriculture officials said was the first such case in Poland, raising fears of costly culls in an industry that counts over 350 farms in the country.</p>

<p>“Data obtained from the chief sanitary inspectorate and last year’s experiences in Denmark and the Netherlands clearly indicate that also in Poland, this virus can spread from mink to humans and vice versa,” the ministry said in a statement.</p>

<p>Denmark’s entire herd of some 17 million mink, one of the world’s biggest, was ordered to be culled in early November after hundreds of farms suffered outbreaks of coronavirus and authorities found mutated strains of the virus among people.</p>

<p>In August, the Netherlands decided to order the closure of more than 100 mink farms after several employees contracted COVID-19.</p>

<p>Following the discovery of COVID-19 at the farm in Kartuzy county, Polish authorities said all mink there would be culled.</p>


The Polish agriculture ministry said on Saturday that a strain of the coronavirus discovered in mink on a farm in northern parts of the country can be transmitted to humans and vice versa.

The Polish agriculture ministry said on Saturday that a strain of the coronavirus discovered in mink on a farm in northern parts of the country can be transmitted to humans and vice versa. COVID-19 was found in mink in Kartuzy county late last month, in what agriculture officials said was the first such case in Poland, raising fears of costly culls in an industry that counts over 350 farms in the country. “Data obtained from the chief sanitary inspectorate and last year’s experiences in Denmark and the Netherlands clearly indicate that also in Poland, this virus can spread from mink to humans and vice versa,” the ministry said in a statement. Denmark’s entire herd of some 17 million mink, one of the world’s biggest, was ordered to be culled in early November after hundreds of farms suffered outbreaks of coronavirus and authorities found mutated strains of the virus among people. In August, the Netherlands decided to order the closure of more than 100 mink farms after several employees contracted COVID-19. Following the discovery of COVID-19 at the farm in Kartuzy county, Polish authorities said all mink there would be culled.

Polish government says coronavirus strain found in mink can pass to humans

<p>Fluids from millions of buried mink may have polluted the groundwater in two places in Jutland in Denmark, as per a latest report.</p>

<p>The Danish government ordered a cull of some 17 million mink in early November after outbreaks of coronavirus hit hundreds of farms and authorities found mutated strains of the virus among people.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denmark-to-dig-up-zombie-mink-that-resurfaced-from-mass-graves-345916">Denmark to dig up 'zombie mink' that resurfaced from mass graves</a></strong></p>

<p>The logistical challenge of disposing of such a large number of dead animals prompted authorities to bury some of the mink in pits in a military area in western Denmark under two metres of soil.</p>

<p>The government later said it wanted to dig up those mink again after some resurfaced from the mass graves, most likely due to gasses from the decomposition process pushing the mink out of the ground.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-covid-scare-denmark-shaken-by-mink-culling-342511/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The new study says groundwater in the area may already have become contaminated and urges authorities to take swift action, Radio4 reported.</p>

<p>The report was commissioned by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency in late November and was prepared by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland and the Technical University of Denmark, Radio4 said.</p>

<p>The agency is currently conducting additional examinations to assess the environmental impact of the graves, including geophysical probes and drillings. It said on Wednesday it expected the results of those early next year.</p>

<p>Before the interring of the dead mink, authorities had said the burials would not pose a risk to drinking water or protected areas.</p>

<p>The macabre burial sites, guarded 24 hours a day to keep people and animals away, have drawn complaints from area residents about possible health risks. Newspapers have referred to "zombie mink".</p>


Fluids from millions of buried mink may have polluted the groundwater in two places in Jutland in Denmark, as per a latest report. The Danish government ordered a cull of some 17 million mink in early November after outbreaks of coronavirus hit hundreds of farms and authorities found mutated strains of the virus among people.

Fluids from millions of buried mink may have polluted the groundwater in two places in Jutland in Denmark, as per a latest report. The Danish government ordered a cull of some 17 million mink in early November after outbreaks of coronavirus hit hundreds of farms and authorities found mutated strains of the virus among people. Also read: Denmark to dig up 'zombie mink' that resurfaced from mass graves The logistical challenge of disposing of such a large number of dead animals prompted authorities to bury some of the mink in pits in a military area in western Denmark under two metres of soil. The government later said it wanted to dig up those mink again after some resurfaced from the mass graves, most likely due to gasses from the decomposition process pushing the mink out of the ground. The new study says groundwater in the area may already have become contaminated and urges authorities to take swift action, Radio4 reported. The report was commissioned by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency in late November and was prepared by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland and the Technical University of Denmark, Radio4 said. The agency is currently conducting additional examinations to assess the environmental impact of the graves, including geophysical probes and drillings. It said on Wednesday it expected the results of those early next year. Before the interring of the dead mink, authorities had said the burials would not pose a risk to drinking water or protected areas. The macabre burial sites, guarded 24 hours a day to keep people and animals away, have drawn complaints from area residents about possible health risks. Newspapers have referred to "zombie mink".

Mass graves for mink in Denmark may have already polluted groundwater: Report

<p>Denmark's government said on Friday it wants to dig up mink that were culled to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, after some resurfaced from mass graves.</p>

<p>Denmark is facing a new horror, as cadavers of the culled minks have re-emerged from the earth, as per footage from local channels.</p>

<p>The macabre phenomenon was observed in a military training field outside the western town of Holstebro, where thousands of minks had been put into an improvised mass grave.&nbsp;Newspapers have referred to them as the "zombie mink".</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/back-from-dead-zombie-minks-rise-from-graves-to-exact-revenge-after-being-culled-345356">Back from dead? Zombie minks rise from graves to 'exact revenge' after being culled</a></strong></p>

<p>Calling it a natural phenomenon, the local police said they ''got lifted by pressure from gases released by the decomposition.''</p>

<p>Denmark had ordered all farmed mink to be culled early this month after finding that 12 people had been infected by a mutated strain of the virus that causes COVID-19, which passed from humans to mink and back to humans.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-covid-scare-denmark-shaken-by-mink-culling-342511/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The decision led to 17 million animals being destroyed and to the resignation last week of Food and Agriculture Minister Morgens Jensen, after it was determined that the order was illegal.</p>

<p>Jensen's replacement, Rasmus Prehn, said on Friday he supported the idea of digging up the animals and incinerating them. He said he had asked the environmental protection agency look into whether it could be done, and parliament would be briefed on the issue on Monday.</p>

<p>The macabre burial sites, guarded 24 hours a day to keep people and animals away, have drawn complaints from area residents about possible health risks.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-largest-fur-auction-house-to-shut-down-following-mink-decimation-342962">World's largest fur auction house to shut down&nbsp;following mink decimation</a></strong></p>

<p>Authorities say there is no risk of the graves spreading the coronavirus, but locals worry about the risk of contaminating drinking water and a bathing lake less than 200 metres away.</p>

<p>Earlier,&nbsp;Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen broke down on Thursday when visiting a mink farmer who lost his herd following the government's order this month to cull all 17 million mink in the country to curb the spread of coronavirus.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/danish-pm-breaks-down-over-mink-culling-345778/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Frederiksen has faced opposition calls to resign and a vote of no confidence in parliament after an order by the government in early November, which it later admitted was illegal, to cull the country's entire mink population.</p>

<p>The order was given after authorities found COVID-19 outbreaks at hundreds of mink farms, including a new strain of the virus, suspected of being able to compromise the efficacy of vaccines.</p>

<p>"We have two generations of really skilled mink farmers, father and son, who in a very, very short time have had their life's work shattered," Frederiksen told reporters after a meeting with a mink farmer and his son at their farm near Kolding in Western&nbsp;Denmark.</p>

<p>"It has been emotional for them, and... Sorry. It has for me too," Frederiksen said with a wavering voice, pausing for breath in between words.</p>

<p>The move to cull&nbsp;Denmark's entire mink population, one of the world's biggest and highly valued for the quality of its fur, has left the government reeling after it admitted it did not have the legal basis to order the culling of healthy mink.</p>

<p>After a tumultuous couple of weeks since the order was given on Nov. 4, the Minister of Agriculture, Mogens Jensen, stepped down last week after an internal investigation revealed a flawed political process.</p>

<p>Denmark&nbsp;has proposed a ban on all mink breeding in the country until 2022. Tage Pedersen, head of the Danish mink breeders' association, said this month the industry, which employs around 6,000 people and exports fur pelts worth $800 million annually, is finished.</p>

<p>Denmark's opposition says the cull of healthy mink should not have been initiated before compensation plans were in place for the owners and workers at some 1,100 mink farms.</p>


Denmark's government said on Friday it wants to dig up mink that were culled to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, after some resurfaced from mass graves. Denmark is facing a new horror, as cadavers of the culled minks have re-emerged from the earth, as per footage from local channels.

Denmark's government said on Friday it wants to dig up mink that were culled to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, after some resurfaced from mass graves. Denmark is facing a new horror, as cadavers of the culled minks have re-emerged from the earth, as per footage from local channels. The macabre phenomenon was observed in a military training field outside the western town of Holstebro, where thousands of minks had been put into an improvised mass grave. Newspapers have referred to them as the "zombie mink". Also read: Back from dead? Zombie minks rise from graves to 'exact revenge' after being culled Calling it a natural phenomenon, the local police said they ''got lifted by pressure from gases released by the decomposition.'' Denmark had ordered all farmed mink to be culled early this month after finding that 12 people had been infected by a mutated strain of the virus that causes COVID-19, which passed from humans to mink and back to humans. The decision led to 17 million animals being destroyed and to the resignation last week of Food and Agriculture Minister Morgens Jensen, after it was determined that the order was illegal. Jensen's replacement, Rasmus Prehn, said on Friday he supported the idea of digging up the animals and incinerating them. He said he had asked the environmental protection agency look into whether it could be done, and parliament would be briefed on the issue on Monday. The macabre burial sites, guarded 24 hours a day to keep people and animals away, have drawn complaints from area residents about possible health risks. Also read: World's largest fur auction house to shut down following mink decimation Authorities say there is no risk of the graves spreading the coronavirus, but locals worry about the risk of contaminating drinking water and a bathing lake less than 200 metres away. Earlier, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen broke down on Thursday when visiting a mink farmer who lost his herd following the government's order this month to cull all 17 million mink in the country to curb the spread of coronavirus. Frederiksen has faced opposition calls to resign and a vote of no confidence in parliament after an order by the government in early November, which it later admitted was illegal, to cull the country's entire mink population. The order was given after authorities found COVID-19 outbreaks at hundreds of mink farms, including a new strain of the virus, suspected of being able to compromise the efficacy of vaccines. "We have two generations of really skilled mink farmers, father and son, who in a very, very short time have had their life's work shattered," Frederiksen told reporters after a meeting with a mink farmer and his son at their farm near Kolding in Western Denmark. "It has been emotional for them, and... Sorry. It has for me too," Frederiksen said with a wavering voice, pausing for breath in between words. The move to cull Denmark's entire mink population, one of the world's biggest and highly valued for the quality of its fur, has left the government reeling after it admitted it did not have the legal basis to order the culling of healthy mink. After a tumultuous couple of weeks since the order was given on Nov. 4, the Minister of Agriculture, Mogens Jensen, stepped down last week after an internal investigation revealed a flawed political process. Denmark has proposed a ban on all mink breeding in the country until 2022. Tage Pedersen, head of the Danish mink breeders' association, said this month the industry, which employs around 6,000 people and exports fur pelts worth $800 million annually, is finished. Denmark's opposition says the cull of healthy mink should not have been initiated before compensation plans were in place for the owners and workers at some 1,100 mink farms.

Denmark to dig up 'zombie mink' that resurfaced from mass graves

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen broke down in front of reporters when she was asked to comment on the impact of culling of minks. She visited a mink farmer who lost his herd following the government’s order this month to cull all 17 million mink in the country to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Danish PM breaks down over mink culling

<p>Denmark is facing a new horror, as cadavers of the culled minks have re-emerged from the earth, as per footage from local channels.</p>

<p>The macabre phenomenon was observed in a military training field outside the western town of Holstebro, where thousands of minks had been put into an improvised mass grave.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-covid-scare-denmark-shaken-by-mink-culling-342511/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Hordes of carcasses of dead minks&nbsp;resurfaced from the grave after mass culling, leading to speculation that they have returned as zombies to ''exact revenge''.</p>

<p>Calling it a natural phenomenon, the local police said they ''got lifted by pressure from gases released by the decomposition.''</p>

<p>The environment ministry said minks should be covered by at least 150 centimetres (five feet) of earth, but according to public broadcaster DR they were only buried under 100 centimetres of dirt in the field outside Holstebro.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denmark-says-mutated-coronavirus-from-mink-farms-most-likely-eradicated-344112">Denmark says mutated coronavirus from mink farms 'most likely eradicated'</a></strong></p>

<p>"The authorities are playing with our environment and using it as a dumping ground," Leif Brogger, a local politician, told Jyllands-Posten newspaper.</p>

<p>Adding to the frustration, the animals had been buried too close to a lake, raising fears of phosphorus and nitrogen pollution, though officials have promised to fix the situation.</p>

<p>The ministry insisted the minks' escape from their tomb was a "temporary problem tied to the animals' decaying process".</p>

<p>"To avoid potential problems for animals and humans the area will be monitored 24 hours a day until a fence is put up," said the ministry.</p>

<p>Photos and videos of the ghastly sight have set social media abuzz, with one Twitter user dubbing 2020 "the year of the zombie mutant killer minks".</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">2020, the year of the zoombie mutant killer minks <a href="https://t.co/UDqGWtJYSB">https://t.co/UDqGWtJYSB</a></p>
— Stefan Bøgh-Andersen (@nitoen) <a href="https://twitter.com/nitoen/status/1331196862414663680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen&nbsp;faced opposition calls to resign after her agriculture minister stepped down over an illegal order by the government to cull the country's farmed&nbsp;mink.</p>

<p>Frederiksen has apologised publicly, but maintains the decision to cull all&nbsp;mink&nbsp;was sound and based on an assessment by health authorities.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/denmark-prime-minister-has-apologized-for-the-recent-mass-mink-culling-342426/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>In early November, Denmark -- which is the world's largest exporter of mink fur -- announced it would cull all of the country's more than 15 million minks after a mutated version of the novel coronavirus was discovered and believed to jeopardise the effectiveness of future vaccines.</p>

<p>Two weeks after having issued the decree -- while in the middle of a political crisis over the legality of the decision -- the government concluded last week that the potential threat to human vaccines was "very likely extinguished", in the absence of any new cases of the mutated version. &nbsp;</p>

<p>More than 10 million minks have already been culled in the Scandinavian country, according to the latest tally.</p>


Denmark is facing a new horror, as cadavers of the culled minks have re-emerged from the earth, as per footage from local channels. The macabre phenomenon was observed in a military training field outside the western town of Holstebro, where thousands of minks had been put into an improvised mass grave.

Denmark is facing a new horror, as cadavers of the culled minks have re-emerged from the earth, as per footage from local channels. The macabre phenomenon was observed in a military training field outside the western town of Holstebro, where thousands of minks had been put into an improvised mass grave. Hordes of carcasses of dead minks resurfaced from the grave after mass culling, leading to speculation that they have returned as zombies to ''exact revenge''. Calling it a natural phenomenon, the local police said they ''got lifted by pressure from gases released by the decomposition.'' The environment ministry said minks should be covered by at least 150 centimetres (five feet) of earth, but according to public broadcaster DR they were only buried under 100 centimetres of dirt in the field outside Holstebro. Also read: Denmark says mutated coronavirus from mink farms 'most likely eradicated' "The authorities are playing with our environment and using it as a dumping ground," Leif Brogger, a local politician, told Jyllands-Posten newspaper. Adding to the frustration, the animals had been buried too close to a lake, raising fears of phosphorus and nitrogen pollution, though officials have promised to fix the situation. The ministry insisted the minks' escape from their tomb was a "temporary problem tied to the animals' decaying process". "To avoid potential problems for animals and humans the area will be monitored 24 hours a day until a fence is put up," said the ministry. Photos and videos of the ghastly sight have set social media abuzz, with one Twitter user dubbing 2020 "the year of the zombie mutant killer minks". 2020, the year of the zoombie mutant killer minks https://t.co/UDqGWtJYSB — Stefan Bøgh-Andersen (@nitoen) November 24, 2020 × Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen faced opposition calls to resign after her agriculture minister stepped down over an illegal order by the government to cull the country's farmed mink. Frederiksen has apologised publicly, but maintains the decision to cull all mink was sound and based on an assessment by health authorities. In early November, Denmark -- which is the world's largest exporter of mink fur -- announced it would cull all of the country's more than 15 million minks after a mutated version of the novel coronavirus was discovered and believed to jeopardise the effectiveness of future vaccines. Two weeks after having issued the decree -- while in the middle of a political crisis over the legality of the decision -- the government concluded last week that the potential threat to human vaccines was "very likely extinguished", in the absence of any new cases of the mutated version. More than 10 million minks have already been culled in the Scandinavian country, according to the latest tally.

Back from dead? Zombie minks rise from graves to 'exact revenge' after being culled

<p>The world's largest fur auction house,&nbsp;Denmark's Kopenhagen Fur, announced on Friday that is going to close after the government's order of culling the country's entire mink population over fears of COVID-19.</p>

<p>The company is planning to liquidate assets dispose of its excess items away. It and shut down&nbsp;in 2-3 years and&nbsp;hold final fur&nbsp;auctions in 2021, 2022, and possibly 2023.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-covid-scare-denmark-shaken-by-mink-culling-342511/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The news implies that 300 individuals will lose their positions, as indicated by CEO Jesper Lauge.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Tragically, the loss of the Danish mink creation implies that the proprietorship base vanishes and in this way, the organization's administration has chosen to slowly cut back the organization and make a controlled closure over a time of 2-3 years," said Lauge.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>End of an era</strong></p>

<p>Kopenhagen Fur was established in 1930 and is possessed by individuals from the Danish Fur Breeders Association.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/denmark-prime-minister-has-apologized-for-the-recent-mass-mink-culling-342426/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>As indicated by the public authority, there are 1,139 mink fur breeders in Denmark and there have been coronavirus&nbsp;cases in 207 of them.</p>

<p>The Danish government put forward hastily drawn up legislation on Tuesday to back up its order to cull all the country's farmed&nbsp;mink, admitting it lacked the legal basis for the measure aimed at preventing human contagion of a mutated coronavirus strain.</p>

<p>Authorities last week embarked on a plan to eliminate Denmark's entire population of 17 million&nbsp;mink, one of the world's biggest, saying the new strain could move to humans and evade future COVID-19 vaccines.</p>


The world's largest fur auction house, Denmark's Kopenhagen Fur, announced on Friday that is going to close after the government's order of culling the country's entire mink population over fears of COVID-19.

The world's largest fur auction house, Denmark's Kopenhagen Fur, announced on Friday that is going to close after the government's order of culling the country's entire mink population over fears of COVID-19. The company is planning to liquidate assets dispose of its excess items away. It and shut down in 2-3 years and hold final fur auctions in 2021, 2022, and possibly 2023. The news implies that 300 individuals will lose their positions, as indicated by CEO Jesper Lauge. "Tragically, the loss of the Danish mink creation implies that the proprietorship base vanishes and in this way, the organization's administration has chosen to slowly cut back the organization and make a controlled closure over a time of 2-3 years," said Lauge. End of an era Kopenhagen Fur was established in 1930 and is possessed by individuals from the Danish Fur Breeders Association. As indicated by the public authority, there are 1,139 mink fur breeders in Denmark and there have been coronavirus cases in 207 of them. The Danish government put forward hastily drawn up legislation on Tuesday to back up its order to cull all the country's farmed mink, admitting it lacked the legal basis for the measure aimed at preventing human contagion of a mutated coronavirus strain. Authorities last week embarked on a plan to eliminate Denmark's entire population of 17 million mink, one of the world's biggest, saying the new strain could move to humans and evade future COVID-19 vaccines.

World's largest fur auction house to shut down following mink decimation

<p>More than 15,000&nbsp;mink&nbsp;in the United States have died of the coronavirus since August, and authorities are keeping about a dozen farms under quarantine while they investigate the cases, state agriculture officials said.</p>

<p>Global health officials are eying the animals as a potential risk for people after Denmark last week embarked on a plan to eliminate all of its 17 million&nbsp;mink, saying a mutated coronavirus strain could move to humans and evade future COVID-19 vaccines.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-covid-scare-denmark-shaken-by-mink-culling-342511/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The US&nbsp;states of Utah, Wisconsin, and Michigan,&nbsp;where the coronavirus has killed&nbsp;mink,&nbsp;said they do not plan to cull animals and are monitoring the situation in Denmark.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denmark-has-found-214-people-infected-with-mink-related-coronavirus-341337">Denmark has found 214 people infected with mink-related coronavirus</a></strong></p>

<p>"We believe that quarantining affected&nbsp;mink&nbsp;farms in addition to implementing stringent biosecurity measures will succeed in controlling SARS-CoV-2 at these locations," the U.S. Department of Agriculture told Reuters on Tuesday.</p>

<p>The USDA said it is working with the US&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state officials and the&nbsp;mink&nbsp;industry to test and monitor infected farms.</p>

<p>The United States has 359,850&nbsp;mink&nbsp;bred to produce babies, known as kits, and produced 2.7 million pelts last year. Wisconsin is the largest&nbsp;milk-producing state, followed by Utah.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-of-mink-dead-from-covid-19-outbreaks-in-us-334200">Thousands of mink dead from COVID-19 outbreaks in US</a></strong></p>

<p>Sick&nbsp;mink&nbsp;in Wisconsin and Utah were exposed to people with probable or confirmed COVID-19 cases, the USDA said. In Michigan it is still unknown if the&nbsp;mink&nbsp;were infected by humans, according to the agency.</p>

<p>In Utah, the first U.S. state to confirm&nbsp;mink&nbsp;infections in August, about 10,700&nbsp;mink&nbsp;have died on nine farms, said Dean Taylor, state veterinarian.</p>

<p>"On all nine, everything is still suggesting a one-way travel from people to the&nbsp;minks," he said.</p>

<p>Coronavirus testing has been done on&nbsp;mink&nbsp;that die and randomly on the affected farms, Taylor said. Like people, some&nbsp;mink&nbsp;are asymptomatic or mildly affected, he said.</p>

<p>The CDC said it was supporting states' investigations into sick&nbsp;mink, including testing of animals and people.</p>

<p>"These investigations will help us to learn more about the transmission dynamics between&nbsp;mink, other animals around the farms and people," the CDC said. "Currently, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to people."</p>

<p>Coronavirus is thought to have first jumped to humans from animals in China, possibly via bats or another animal at a food market in Wuhan, although many outstanding questions remain.</p>

<p>Monitoring US&nbsp;mink&nbsp;for virus symptoms and quarantining infected farms should limit the disease's spread if cases are caught early, said Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.</p>

<p>"I'm fairly confident that as long as they have that surveillance going and it's strong enough, then they should be able to prevent the spread," he said.</p>

<p>US&nbsp;authorities are urging farmers to wear protective gear like masks and gloves when handling&nbsp;mink&nbsp;to avoid infecting the animals.</p>

<p>In Wisconsin, about 5,000&nbsp;mink&nbsp;have died on two farms, State Veterinarian Darlene Konkle said.</p>

<p>One farm is composting the dead&nbsp;mink&nbsp;to dispose of the carcasses without spreading the virus, Konkle said. Authorities are working with the second farm to determine how to dispose of the&nbsp;mink, and dead animals are being kept in a metal container in the meantime, she said.</p>

<p>Michigan declined to disclose how many&nbsp;mink&nbsp;have died, citing privacy rules.</p>

<p>State officials said they are working with the USDA to determine whether farmers can sell the pelts of infected&nbsp;mink. The pelts are used to make fur coats and other items.</p>

<p>The coronavirus has also infected cats, dogs, a lion and a tiger, according to the USDA. Experts say&nbsp;mink&nbsp;appear to be the most susceptible animal so far.</p>


More than 15,000 mink in the United States have died of the coronavirus since August, and authorities are keeping about a dozen farms under quarantine while they investigate the cases, state agriculture officials said.

More than 15,000 mink in the United States have died of the coronavirus since August, and authorities are keeping about a dozen farms under quarantine while they investigate the cases, state agriculture officials said. Global health officials are eying the animals as a potential risk for people after Denmark last week embarked on a plan to eliminate all of its 17 million mink, saying a mutated coronavirus strain could move to humans and evade future COVID-19 vaccines. The US states of Utah, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where the coronavirus has killed mink, said they do not plan to cull animals and are monitoring the situation in Denmark. Also read: Denmark has found 214 people infected with mink-related coronavirus "We believe that quarantining affected mink farms in addition to implementing stringent biosecurity measures will succeed in controlling SARS-CoV-2 at these locations," the U.S. Department of Agriculture told Reuters on Tuesday. The USDA said it is working with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state officials and the mink industry to test and monitor infected farms. The United States has 359,850 mink bred to produce babies, known as kits, and produced 2.7 million pelts last year. Wisconsin is the largest milk-producing state, followed by Utah. Also read: Thousands of mink dead from COVID-19 outbreaks in US Sick mink in Wisconsin and Utah were exposed to people with probable or confirmed COVID-19 cases, the USDA said. In Michigan it is still unknown if the mink were infected by humans, according to the agency. In Utah, the first U.S. state to confirm mink infections in August, about 10,700 mink have died on nine farms, said Dean Taylor, state veterinarian. "On all nine, everything is still suggesting a one-way travel from people to the minks," he said. Coronavirus testing has been done on mink that die and randomly on the affected farms, Taylor said. Like people, some mink are asymptomatic or mildly affected, he said. The CDC said it was supporting states' investigations into sick mink, including testing of animals and people. "These investigations will help us to learn more about the transmission dynamics between mink, other animals around the farms and people," the CDC said. "Currently, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to people." Coronavirus is thought to have first jumped to humans from animals in China, possibly via bats or another animal at a food market in Wuhan, although many outstanding questions remain. Monitoring US mink for virus symptoms and quarantining infected farms should limit the disease's spread if cases are caught early, said Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. "I'm fairly confident that as long as they have that surveillance going and it's strong enough, then they should be able to prevent the spread," he said. US authorities are urging farmers to wear protective gear like masks and gloves when handling mink to avoid infecting the animals. In Wisconsin, about 5,000 mink have died on two farms, State Veterinarian Darlene Konkle said. One farm is composting the dead mink to dispose of the carcasses without spreading the virus, Konkle said. Authorities are working with the second farm to determine how to dispose of the mink, and dead animals are being kept in a metal container in the meantime, she said. Michigan declined to disclose how many mink have died, citing privacy rules. State officials said they are working with the USDA to determine whether farmers can sell the pelts of infected mink. The pelts are used to make fur coats and other items. The coronavirus has also infected cats, dogs, a lion and a tiger, according to the USDA. Experts say mink appear to be the most susceptible animal so far.

Coronavirus kills 15,000 mink in US, as Denmark prepares for nationwide cull

Denmark will cull its entire herd of up to 17 million mink after a mutation of the coronavirus found in the animals spread to humans, posing risk to any possible future vaccine, the prime minister said on Wednesday (November 4).

Denmark to cull entire herd of mink after coronavirus mutation spread to humans

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