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US - At least 15,000 mink dead as coronavirus spreads among fur farms in Utah, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oregon - At least 12 mink farms infected - some st

Gert van der Hoek

Gert van der Hoek

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
OCTOBER 2, 2020

Thousands of minks at Utah fur farms have died because of the coronavirus in the past 10 days, forcing nine sites in three counties to quarantine, but the state veterinarian said people don’t appear to be at risk from the outbreak.

The COVID-19 infections likely were spread from workers at the mink ranches to the animals, with no sign so far that the animals are spreading it to humans, said Dr. Dean Taylor, the state veterinarian, who is investigating the outbreak.

“We genuinely don’t feel like there is much of a risk going from the mink to the people,” he said Thursday.
 
Utah mink farms quarantined due to coronavirus

10/5/2020

Nine mink farms in three Utah counties were quarantined after thousands of minks died of SARS-CoV-2 infections that were likely spread to the animals from workers at the farms, says Utah State Veterinarian Dean Taylor. Most of the deaths have occurred in older minks, and the farms have not resorted to euthanasia to stop the virus' spread, Dr. Taylor says.
 
[TABLE="border: 0, cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]

[TD="align: left"]SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19,
United States of America[/TD]
[TD="width: 1%, align: right"] [/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [TABLE="border: 0, cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]Information received on 02/10/2020 from Dr Mark Davidson, Associate Administrator, USDA-APHIS, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of America[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Summary

[TD="width: 10%"]Report type[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Follow-up report No. 20[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Date of start of the event[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]27/03/2020[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Date of confirmation of the event[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]04/04/2020[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Report date[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]02/10/2020[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Date submitted to OIE[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]02/10/2020[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Reason for notification[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Emerging disease[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Morbidity[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]2 (scale 0 to 5)[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Mortality[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]1 (scale 0 to 5)[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Zoonotic impact[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Zoonotic potential currently unknown[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Causal agent[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Related reports[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"] Immediate notification (06/04/2020) Follow-up report No. 1 (17/04/2020) Follow-up report No. 2 (22/04/2020) Follow-up report No. 3 (29/04/2020) Follow-up report No. 4 (02/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 5 (03/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 6 (10/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 7 (25/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 8 (02/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 9 (09/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 10 (17/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 11 (23/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 12 (30/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 13 (05/08/2020) Follow-up report No. 14 (13/08/2020) Follow-up report No. 15 (20/08/2020) Follow-up report No. 16 (27/08/2020) Follow-up report No. 17 (02/09/2020) Follow-up report No. 18 (10/09/2020) Follow-up report No. 19 (24/09/2020) Follow-up report No. 20 (02/10/2020) [/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]New outbreaks (4)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Utah, Utah
Date of start of the outbreak07/09/2020
Outbreak statusContinuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unitFarm
Affected animals
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and disposed ofSlaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae)600 14600
Affected populationDomestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm

[TD="align: left"]Outbreak 1[/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Brazos County, Brazos, Texas
Date of start of the outbreak11/09/2020
Outbreak statusContinuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unitOther
Affected animals
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and disposed ofSlaughtered
Cats11000
Affected populationPet domestic cat (Felis catus) in a residential household

[TD="align: left"]Outbreak 2[/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Brazos County, Brazos, Texas
Date of start of the outbreak14/09/2020
Outbreak statusContinuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unitOther
Affected animals
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and disposed ofSlaughtered
Dogs11000
Affected populationPet domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) in a residential household

[TD="align: left"]Outbreak 3[/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Utah, Utah
Date of start of the outbreak20/09/2020
Outbreak statusContinuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unitFarm
Affected animals
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and disposed ofSlaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae)14000 24700
Affected populationDomestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm

[TD="align: left"]Outbreak 4[/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Total outbreaks: 4
Total animals affected
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and disposed ofSlaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae)14600**39300
Cats11000
Dogs11000
Outbreak statistics
SpeciesApparent morbidity rateApparent mortality rateApparent case fatality rateProportion susceptible animals lost*
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae)**2.69%**2.69%
Cats100.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%
Dogs100.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

[TD="align: left"]Summary of outbreaks[/TD]

[TD="colspan: 2"]*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter[/TD]

[TD="colspan: 2"]**Not calculated because of missing information[/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Suspected human transmission
Epidemiological comments2 Oct 2020 Update-- Texas (TX): A domestic dog from a known positive COVID-19 household was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing (PCR and sequencing). The affected dog showed clinical signs of coughing and wheezing. Samples for this case were collected as part of planned and targeted active surveillance of a specific animal, with known or suspected exposures to a person with COVID-19 or other exposure to SARS-CoV-2, to better understand risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Texas (TX): A domestic cat from a known positive COVID-19 household was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing (PCR and sequencing). The affected cat showed no clinical signs and continues to be asymptomatic. Samples for this case were collected as part of planned and targeted active surveillance of a specific animal, with known or suspected exposures to a person with COVID-19 or other exposure to SARS-CoV-2, to better understand risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Utah (UT): Following increased mortality rates, domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) from two commercial premises were confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing results (PCR and sequencing) and meeting case definition. Confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic mink from the United States have now been identified on eight commercial premises. One of the affected premises reported an employee exhibiting mild symptoms consistent with COVID-19. State Public Health Officials are following up on workers in contact with mink at the other affected premises. State Officials in Utah have quarantined the premises and are working closely with federal One Health partners to follow up and monitor the situation. Please note: To protect confidentiality of any data related to human cases, the location used for these outbreaks is that of the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UVDL), where animal testing samples were first collected. Due to limitations with the WAHIS system, the map notation indicates disease outbreaks in wild mink, however the affected populations are domesticated American Mink (Neovison vison) from commercial premises as stated above. Virus neutralizing antibodies in the absence of other positive test results have been detected in the following animals (listed by state): 3 cats (NY) As of 2 Oct 2020, total number of animals with detections of virus neutralizing antibody only:34
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Control measures
Measures applied
  • Quarantine
  • Disinfection
  • Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists)
  • No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and typeSpeciesTestTest dateResult
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)American Minkgene sequencing24/09/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)American Minkreal-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR)24/09/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)Catsgene sequencing30/09/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)Catsreal-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR)30/09/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)Catsvirus neutralisation test (VNT)24/09/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)Dogsgene sequencing30/09/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)Dogsreal-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR)30/09/2020Positive
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


...

https://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/...?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=35946
 
Mink in Wisconsin test positive for coronavirus

Posted: October 8, 2020

MADISON, Wis. — Dead mink at a Taylor County mink farm tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans, a news release said.

According to the release this is the first confirmed infection among Wisconsin’s mink population. Wisconsin is the second state with confirmed cases at a mink farm, with Utah being the first. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the positive result after preliminary testing done by the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has quarantined all the animals on the farm. No animals or animal products can leave the farm.

Since the investigation is active, DATCP is not providing information about the farm or those involved.
 
9 mink test positive for COVID-19, several hundred dead at Taylor Co. farm

MEDFORD, Wis. (WSAW) - The National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirms dead mink at a Taylor County mink farm have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. Kevin Hoffman, Public Information Officer, Division of Animal Health tells NewsChannel 7, nine mink initially tested positive for the virus, however, several hundred have died.

Hoffman explained by email the situation was fluid so an exact number was not available.

According to a news release, this is the first confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection among Wisconsin’s mink population.

Wisconsin is the second state with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 at a mink farm; Utah confirmed its first cases on Aug. 17. There is currently no evidence that animals, including mink, play a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 to humans. However, people infected with the virus can spread it to mink and other animals.

As far as disposal, Hoffman said they’re working with the farm to do on-site composting.
 
At least 12,000 mink dead as coronavirus spreads among fur farms in Utah and Wisconsin

Thousands of mink bred in fur farms in Utah and Wisconsin have died from coronavirus, after scientists believe the virus was introduced to the animals by humans. The outbreak was first noticed in Utah in August. Ten thousand mink have now died in Utah fur farms, a spokesperson from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) told CBS News on Friday.
 
Danes start culling 2.5 million minks after virus hits farms

By JAN M. OLSEN
an hour ago

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish veterinarians and farmers have begun culling at least 2.5 million minks in northern Denmark, authorities said Monday, after coronavirus has been reported in at least 63 farms.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is handling the culling of the infected animals while breeders who have non-infected animals on a farm within 8 kilometers (5 miles) of an infected farm must put them to sleep themselves, said Flemming Kure Marker of the government agency.

https://apnews.com/article/virus-out...ign=SocialFlow
 
[TABLE="border: 0, cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]

[TD="align: left"]SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19,
United States of America[/TD]
[TD="width: 1%, align: right"] [/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [TABLE="border: 0, cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]Information received on 09/10/2020 from Dr Mark Davidson, Associate Administrator, USDA-APHIS, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of America[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Summary

[TD="width: 10%"]Report type[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Follow-up report No. 21[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Date of start of the event[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]27/03/2020[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Date of confirmation of the event[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]04/04/2020[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Report date[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]09/10/2020[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Date submitted to OIE[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]09/10/2020[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Reason for notification[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Emerging disease[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Morbidity[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]2 (scale 0 to 5)[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Mortality[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]1 (scale 0 to 5)[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Zoonotic impact[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]Zoonotic potential currently unknown[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Causal agent[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"]SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19[/TD]

[TD="width: 10%"]Related reports[/TD]
[TD="width: 30%"] Immediate notification (06/04/2020) Follow-up report No. 1 (17/04/2020) Follow-up report No. 2 (22/04/2020) Follow-up report No. 3 (29/04/2020) Follow-up report No. 4 (02/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 5 (03/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 6 (10/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 7 (25/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 8 (02/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 9 (09/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 10 (17/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 11 (23/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 12 (30/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 13 (05/08/2020) Follow-up report No. 14 (13/08/2020) Follow-up report No. 15 (20/08/2020) Follow-up report No. 16 (27/08/2020) Follow-up report No. 17 (02/09/2020) Follow-up report No. 18 (10/09/2020) Follow-up report No. 19 (24/09/2020) Follow-up report No. 20 (02/10/2020) Follow-up report No. 21 (09/10/2020) [/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]New outbreaks (3)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Lee County, Lee, Alabama
Date of start of the outbreak25/09/2020
Outbreak statusContinuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unitOther
Affected animals
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and disposed ofSlaughtered
Cats41100
Affected populationPet domestic cat (Felis catus) in a residential household

[TD="align: left"]Outbreak 1[/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Michigan, Michigan
Date of start of the outbreak27/09/2020
Outbreak statusContinuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unitFarm
Affected animals
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and disposed ofSlaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae)17000 200000
Affected populationDomestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm

[TD="align: left"]Outbreak 2[/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Wisconsin, Wisconsin
Date of start of the outbreak30/09/2020
Outbreak statusContinuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unitFarm
Affected animals
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and disposed ofSlaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae)14600 180000
Affected populationDomestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm

[TD="align: left"]Outbreak 3[/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Total outbreaks: 3
Total animals affected
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and disposed ofSlaughtered
Cats41100
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae)31600**380000
Outbreak statistics
SpeciesApparent morbidity rateApparent mortality rateApparent case fatality rateProportion susceptible animals lost*
Cats25.00%25.00%100.00%25.00%
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae)**12.03%**12.03%

[TD="align: left"]Summary of outbreaks[/TD]

[TD="colspan: 2"]*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter[/TD]

[TD="colspan: 2"]**Not calculated because of missing information[/TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Suspected human transmission
Epidemiological comments9 Oct 2020 Update-- Alabama (AL): A domestic cat from a known positive COVID-19 household was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing (PCR and sequencing). The affected cat died after exhibiting upper respiratory signs, foaming from the nose and neurologic signs, including head pressing and staggering. Necropsy results suggested a diagnosis of bacterial meningoencephalitis. The other three cats in the same household were reported to have respiratory signs and have been sampled for testing. Michigan (MI): Following increased mortality rates, domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) from a commercial premises were confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing results (PCR and sequencing) and meeting case definition. This is the first confirmed detection of SARS-CoV-2 in mink from Michigan. Clinical signs included inappetence, respiratory difficulty, epistaxis and sudden death. The source of infection is being investigated at this time. State Officials in Michigan have quarantined the premises and are working closely with Federal One Health partners to follow up and monitor the situation. Please note: The location used for this outbreak is that of the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MSU VDL), where animal samples were first tested. Wisconsin (WI): Following increased mortality rates, domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) from a commercial premises were confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing results (PCR and sequencing) and meeting case definition. This is the first confirmed detection of SARS-CoV-2 in mink from Wisconsin. Clinical signs included inappetance, respiratory difficulty, epistaxis, coffee-colored urine (black mink only) and sudden death. The affected premises reported a positive case of COVID-19 in a person that was in contact with the mink. State Officials in Wisconsin are assisting with carcass management and working closely with Federal One Health partners to follow up and monitor the situation. Please note: To protect confidentiality of any data related to human cases, the location used for this outbreak is that of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WI VDL), where animal samples were first tested. Confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic mink from the United States have now been identified on ten commercial premises. Due to limitations with the WAHIS system, the map notation indicates disease outbreaks in wild mink, however the affected populations are domesticated American Mink (Neovison vison) from commercial premises as stated above.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Control measures
Measures applied
  • Quarantine
  • Disinfection
  • Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists)
  • No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and typeSpeciesTestTest dateResult
Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (Local laboratory)American Minkreal-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR)02/10/2020Positive
Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (Local laboratory)American Minkreal-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR)05/10/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)American Minkgene sequencing07/10/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)American Minkreal-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR)07/10/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)Catsgene sequencing06/10/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)Catsreal-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR)06/10/2020Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory)Catsvirus neutralisation test (VNT)06/10/2020Positive
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


...

https://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/...?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=35973
 
Mink Housed on Michigan Farm Test Positive for Coronavirus

The virus that causes COVID-19 in humans has been detected in mink housed on a Michigan farm, the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced Friday.

The recent discovery of the coronavirus in mink at the unnamed farm is not the first time the disease has been found in the animal in the United States, officials said. In August, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the first confirmed cases of the virus in mink at farms in Utah. There has since been a confirmed case in Wisconsin.

After several mink recently exhibited signs of illness and died on the Michigan farm, the owner submitted specimens from the animals for diagnosis. The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory completed necropsies on two of the affected animals, which tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus.
 
More Than 3K Mink Dead From Coronavirus At Taylor County Mink Farm

Industry Experts Say Growing Coronavirus Spread Among Humans In State Increases Risk For Mink Farms

By Hope Kirwan
Published: Thursday, November 5, 2020, 5:00am

Nearly 3,400 mink have died from the coronavirus at a mink farm in Taylor County over the last month, according to the latest numbers from the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

DATCP confirmed the first mink deaths from the virus on a farm Oct. 8. At that time, Wisconsin State Veterinarian Dr. Darlene Konkle said several hundred mink at the affected farm had died.

... The agency has said it will not release information about the affected farm or parties involved while an investigation into the virus is active.

DATCP spokesperson Kevin Hoffman said all animals or animal products are still quarantined on the farm. He said federal and state officials will use testing and other data to determine when the quarantine can end.

https://www.wpr.org/more-3k-mink-dead-coronavirus-taylor-county-mink-farm
 
Two Taylor County mink farms under quarantine after more than 5,000 animals died from COVID-19

Two mink farms in Taylor County are under quarantine after animals in the facilities tested positive for ARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans.

Between the two farms, more than 5,400 mink have died, said Kevin Hoffman, the public information officer for the state Division of Animal Health.

The virus was confirmed at the first farm in early October when a dead mink tested positive for the disease. The farm was quarantined at that point, meaning no animals or animal parts could leave the premises. It's believed the virus jumped from a human to the animals, Hoffman said, but an investigation into the transfer is still underway.

The outbreak at the second farm was found more recently, Hoffman said. It is not believed that the virus jumped from the first farm to the second.
 
Coronavirus kills 15,000 U.S. mink

CHICAGO (Reuters) - 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.

The U.S. 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.

“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 U.S. 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 mink-producing state, followed by Utah.

The CDC said it was supporting states’ investigations into sick mink, including testing of animals and people.


READ MORE
 
La situation des populations sauvages de vison am?ricain est connue, ou comme pour la dinde sauvage et le danger influenza le risque est par principe nul ?

Cette question est pos?e, car les v?t?rinaires am?ricains pr?tendent souvent ?clairer les autres, notamment au niveau de l' O. I. E, mais l? franchement...

Vu les faits produits, on croirait lire les textes des autorit?s chinoises ?voquant la situation des sangliers au regard du danger PPA.

Ces deux puissances seraient bien inspirees de communiquer de fa?on moins captieuse, car leur image est gravement compromise...
 
COVID outbreak reported on Oregon mink farm

11 28 2020

An Oregon mink farm has reported an outbreak of COVID-19 among animals and staff.

The Statesman Journal reports the farm has been placed under quarantine, meaning no animals or animal products can leave the farm.

The state has not said where the farm is located, how many animals the farm has, when the farmer reported the illnesses, or when the animals were tested.

Ten samples from mink have come back positive for SARS-CoV-2, the animal virus linked to COVID-19 in humans, ODA said. The farm also is reporting cases of COVID-19 in staff.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture recommended the farmer and staff self-isolate.

Outbreaks in farmed mink have been reported in several states and countries.
 
An Oregon mink farm has a COVID-19 outbreak among animals and workers

An Oregon mink farm has reported an outbreak of COVID-19 among animals and workers.

Oregon Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Andrea Cantu-Schomus declined to say which county the farm is in or how many workers have tested positive, citing federal health privacy rules. The farm has about 12,000 animals, she said.

Eight of Oregon's 11 mink farms are in Marion County.

Mink, workers positive for COVID-19

The farmer reported mink with symptoms to ODA on Nov. 19, Cantu-Schomus said.

ODA took samples from 10 of the sick mink, and all came back positive for SARS-CoV-2, the animal virus linked to COVID-19 in humans. Cantu-Schomus was unable to say how many mink were sick, but said the 10 were a sample of the population.

On Nov. 23, ODA placed the farm under quarantine, meaning no animals or animal products can leave the farm.

On the same date, the Oregon Health Authority asked all workers on the farm to self-isolate, Cantu-Schomus said.

OHA officials did not respond to an interview request.
 
First case of coronavirus detected in wild mink

ByHelen Briggs
9 hours ago

The first known case of coronavirus in wild mink has been reported, leading to calls for widespread monitoring of wildlife.

In an alert to the International Society for Infectious Diseases, US veterinary officials said a wild mink had tested positive around an infected mink farm in Utah.

This is the first known detection of the coronavirus (Sars-Co-V2), in a "free-ranging wild mink", raising concerns that the infection could spread between wild mink, said Dr Dan Horton, a veterinary expert at the University of Surrey, UK.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-en...4&at_custom1=[post+type]&at_custom3=@BBCWorld
 
https://blog.humanesociety.org/2020...risk.html?credit=blog_post_121420_idhome-page
"It is true that there are no good endings for these curious, intelligent animals who are bred and subjected to a life of misery on fur farms before they are slaughtered for their fur. But the coronavirus has multiplied that suffering many times over. Millions of mink have been gassed to death worldwide. Mink are semi-aquatic, meaning they can hold their breaths longer, which only prolongs their suffering when they are gassed.

What is even more inhumane is that in the United States, most of the animals are being allowed to die of respiratory failure, no doubt after they have suffered immensely from the effects of the virus and without any medical care."
 
Source: https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/534...s-testing-surveillance-and-trapping-continues

Tests at an Oregon mink farm show SARS-CoV-2 still present with no virus mutations; testing, surveillance, and trapping continues
News Provided By
Oregon Department of Agriculture
January 13, 2021, 02:36 GMT
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The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) will continue to test, survey, and trap at an affected Oregon mink farm after the third round of samples found SARS-CoV-2 still circulating among the herd. On January 11, the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed two out of 62 mink samples collected by ODA on January 5, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The second round of testing that occurred last month on December 21, 2020 showed no sign of the virus among the 62 samples collected.

“These are new infections, not reinfections,” said Dr. Ryan Scholz, ODA state veterinarian. “Genome testing also confirms that all the infected mink have the same strain of SARS-CoV-2 with no mutations. This is positive news because it is very likely the new infections occurred during regular operations which includes moving the animals and some consolidation. We will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and test until we get two consecutive negative testing rounds before releasing the quarantine. Biologists are doing an outstanding job of trapping wildlife near the farm, ensuring the virus does not affect nor establish itself in other wildlife.”

Since December, wildlife biologists with USDA Wildlife Services, under the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) direction, have captured and tested more than a dozen animals, including ten opossums, three cats, two skunks, and three mink. All the animals tested negative except for two mink. On December 22, NVSL confirmed a mink (captured December 13) trapped near the farm tested positive for low levels of SARS-CoV-2. Biologists caught two additional escaped mink within 75 yards of the affected farm between December 23 and 24. On January 11, NVSL confirmed one of the captured minks tested positive for low levels of SARS-Co-V2. Biologists have not caught any additional mink to date...
 
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