Coronavirus: New Mutation Infections From Minks Found in Denmark
Denmark Culls 15 million minks for fear of Covid mutation
The mutant new coronavirus infected from mink has been found to have infected 12 people, which has raised concerns about the effectiveness of future vaccines.
Denmark, the world’s largest mink producer, stated that it plans to eliminate more than 15 million mink due to concerns about humans being infected with the mutated Covid-19 virus from mink and that the mutated virus may affect the effectiveness of future vaccines.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that 12 people have been infected with the mutant virus and that mink is now considered a public health risk.
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Fredrickson said: “The mutant virus in the mink may pose a threat to the effectiveness of future vaccines.”
She said that the army, the police and the national emergency services will be mobilized to help the farms eliminate the mink farmed, thereby eradicating the mink in Denmark.
In the past few weeks, the authorities and breeders have been culling these animals to curb the spread of Covid-19.
According to Reuters, the Danish Minister of Health stated that in the homes of a large number of mink breeders in northern Denmark, about 783 infected people were found to have infections from farms.
Denmark is the world’s largest mink producer, with 1.5 to 17 million minks in approximately 1,100 farms. According to reports, the latest data from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration stated that Covid-19 infections have been found in more than 200 mink farms. These figures were confirmed by Danish police press officials.
Saga Furs CEO Finnish fur auctioneer Magnus Ljung commented on Denmark’s decision, saying: “This is shocking. They will kill all minks in Denmark. They are talking about the Covid-19 mutation in minks, from minks to humans. And may affect future human vaccines.”
Ljung estimates that the value of the mink population in Denmark in 2020 will be between 350 million euros and 400 million euros (270 million pounds to 360 million pounds).
“They controlled [Covid-19 mink infection] in the Netherlands, and Spain and Sweden also have a few cases, but they can all be controlled. The Danish approach is somewhat unexpected, and the infection may occur in other countries,” Ljung said.
Birgitte Damm, a policy consultant and veterinarian for the Danish Animal Protection NGO, said: “What we really need to do is to completely end mink farming and retrain farmers.
Dr. Joanna Swaber, Senior Director of International Humane Society/European Public Affairs, delivered a speech in Amsterdam: “Denmark is one of the largest fur producers on the planet. Therefore, as the Covid-19 infection is spiralling, The closure of all mink farms in Denmark is a major development.
“Although it is not a ban on fur farming, this move marks the purpose of a trivial fur fashion that no one needs. In Danish fur farms, millions of animals are confined to small barbed wire cages. The pain is over. We commend the Danish Prime Minister for his decision to take this important scientific step to protect Danish citizens from the deadly coronavirus.”