Denmark to cull almost 17 million minks over mutated coronavirus

Copenhagen: Denmark, the world’s biggest producer of mink fur on Wednesday decided to cull all of the country’s minks after a mutated version of the new coronavirus was detected at mink farms and had spread to people.

The Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in a press conference informed that the mutation could pose a risk that that future (coronavirus) vaccines won't work the way they should.

Denmark's police chief Thorkild Fogde said they would start the culling as "soon as possible," but conceded that with 15 million to 17 million minks spread over 1,080 farms it was "a very large undertaking".

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The World Health Organisation earlier informed that "there is evidence of transmission of COVID-19  at the human-animal interface".

According to reports, Several animals -- including dogs and cats have tested positive for the virus and there have been reported cases at mink farms in the Netherlands and Spain, as well as in Denmark.

WHO in a statement said, “In a few instances, the minks that were infected by humans have transmitted the virus to other people. These are the first reported cases of animal-to-human transmission.”

Health authorities have also concluded that the mutated virus "is not inhibited by antibodies to the same degree as the normal virus".

While the majority of cases had been observed in the northern part of the Jutland region, all minks in the country would still be culled.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is developing new technical guidance on animal health, including testing and quarantine, the WHO said.

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