Denmark - Mink Farms Affected by Coronavirus: June 17 - September 14, 2020

[Gert van der Hoek]

COPENHAGEN: Mink at a farm in Denmark were found to be infected with the new coronavirus and the whole stock now has to be culled, Danish authorities said on Wednesday (Jun 17).

The outbreak is the first in Denmark, the world’s largest producer of mink skins, but comes shortly after the virus was detected at 13 mink farms in the Netherlands where roughly 570,000 minks have been ordered culled.

"The government has decided, on a precautionary principle, that the infected mink stock will be culled to minimise the risk of potential spread of the disease," said the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration in a statement.

Mink at the Danish farm were tested after a person affiliated with the farm tested positive with COVID-19.

The outbreaks on the Dutch mink farms are thought to have originated from their human handlers and then spread among the animals.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Corona found in northern Jutland mink

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has found coronavirus in a northern Jutland mink herd. Based on a precautionary principle, the herd is to be culled.

Press Release , Published: June 17, 2020

There were coronaviruses in samples from the mink from a North Jutland mink, which the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration collected and analyzed at the Danish State Serum Institute over the weekend. This is stated by the Food Administration's emergency manager, Nikolas K?hn Hove.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has analyzed samples from a total of 34 mink from the northern Jutland herd. This happened after the Danish Patient Safety Board found that a patient with COVID-19 is associated with the mink farm.

'When there was a suspicion of infection among the minks over the weekend, we placed immediate restrictions on the mink farm in the Danish Food Authority. Thus no animals, and only a few employees, were able to get in and out of the herd. We are in regular contact with the health authorities about how the employees of the affected mink farm should behave, and about the handling of the further process', says Nikolas K?hn Hove.

As this is the first time that coronary infection has been found in a Danish mink herd, the government has decided, on a precautionary principle, that the infected mink herd must be killed, in order to minimize the risk of possible spread of infection during the ongoing clarification phase.

At the same time, a test strategy will now be drawn up to determine if there are other mink herds in the area that are infected, and the Danish Food Safety Authority will, in collaboration with the health authorities, prepare guidelines for how a similar situation will be handled going forward.

A number of mink farms have also been found in the Netherlands in the Netherlands, and the Dutch government has decided that all infected herds should be killed. The Danish authorities have been in constant dialogue about this development with the Dutch authorities.

Nikolas K?hn Hove recalls that everyone who has contact with mink must still follow the Food and Drug Administration's general hygiene rules for herd visits to mink farms. Ie washing hands and changing clothes both before and after visits with the animals. If you have symptoms of Covid-19, you should stay home.

Mink that gets coronavirus risks getting serious breathing problems and dying. The Food and Drug Administration encourages mink owners to contact their veterinarian if they suspect coronavirus in their mink herd. The veterinarian should contact the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration if it turns out that there is a basis for the suspicion.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Another Northern Jutland mink farm under corona suspicion


The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is currently testing another North Jutland mink farm for corona.

There are now a total of two mink farms in Northern Jutland that have been included in the Danish Food Authority's searchlight.

This is stated by emergency manager Nikolas K?hn Hove, who can tell that the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is just now testing mink on another mink farm in North Jutland.

"We have received a new request from the Danish Patient Safety Agency for another mink farm, where there has also been a person associated with the farm who has been tested positive for covid-19," Nikolas K?hn Hove told the agricultural newspaper.

On Wednesday, a mink farm in Sindal in North Jutland with 11,000 mink and 1,800 bitches was tested positive for corona.

[Gert van der Hoek]

JUNE 20, 2020


Another mink farm in North Jutland is affected by coronavirus

Another mink farm has been found infected with coronavirus, so a total of two farms have now been tested positive. 120 farms across the country must now be tested, the government reports.

Two mink infections have been found in yet another Danish mink farm in North Jutland. This is stated in a press release by the Ministry of the Environment and Food.
This means that the authorities have now found Covid-19 in two northern Jutland mink herds in one week. The Ministry therefore decides that 120 farms in the country over now must be tested.

[Gert van der Hoek]

The government launches test program following new COVID-19 discovery in Danish mink

Press release


In order to gain an overview of the prevalence of COVID-19 in the Danish mink herds, the government has decided to test selected mink farms throughout Denmark. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has also taken positive COVID-19 samples at a new mink herd in North Jutland.

Published June 20, 2020

According to Food Minister Mogens Jensen, the discovery of COVID-19 in Danish mink has created a need for a greater overview of the occurrence of the virus in mink. Therefore, the Government is launching a new screening strategy.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has also found COVID-19 in two mink, when officials from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration took samples from 46 mink in a mink farm in North Jutland on Thursday. It shows studies from the State Serum Institute.

This means that the authorities have now found COVID-19 in two northern Jutland mink herds in one week. Since only a few of the animals tested have COVID-19 in the latest mink farm, the National Board of Food will conduct several tests on Monday. It happens to have a better basis for deciding what to do with the crew.

- The government has decided that the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is now launching a screening of 120 mink herds across the country. The screening should show us whether the first findings were isolated cases, or whether there was a more widespread infection in the mink herds. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration will use the results in the further handling of COVID-19 among animals and humans, says Mogens Jensen.

The health authorities are also aware of the situation.

- We are following developments closely. The National Serum Institute and the food authorities work together on high pressure to gain more knowledge about how the chains of infection move in the area. We are ready for further action. At present, it is still unclear whether the minks have infected the people or vice versa, says Health Minister Magnus Heunicke

Infected dog
Veterinary and Food Administration has also found covid19 infection in the family dog. Worldwide, some pets have been found with COVID-19, but this is the first time this has happened in Denmark.

-Therefore, the owner of the mink farm has been told that they should treat the dog according to the same recommendations that they themselves have been given in relation to COVID-19. This means that they and the dog must avoid close contact with other animals and people outside the household being aware of good hygiene, and the dog must only be ventilated on the mat, says Mogens Jensen.

The research has found no evidence that pets play a greater role in the spread of COVID-19. Dog and pet owners therefore do not have to worry about following the same guidelines that apply to humans. On the Food Authority's website, you can read more about how to behave.

The Board of Food maintains the restrictions imposed on the farm on Thursday. Thus, no animals and only a few people are allowed in and out of the herd.
The samples in the mink farm were taken because, on Wednesday, the Danish Patient Safety Agency informed the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration about COVID-19 infection in a family that runs the mink farm.

[Gert van der Hoek]

New specimens in North Jutland mink showed findings of COVID-19 in many mink

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has found COVID-19 in more than half the animals in a mink herd in North Jutland. The government has decided that the animals will be killed on the basis of a precautionary principle

News , Published: June 29, 2020


The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has tested a mink herd in North Jutland every few days. Tests showed that COVID-19 infection has spread from few to many animals, so over half of the minks are now infected. The mink farm is the second northern Jutland mink farm where the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has found COVID-19.

The government, in line with the first infected mink herd, has chosen to strike down the herd based on a precautionary principle. The killing will take place on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

The minks were tested again because only COVID-19 was found for very few mink when the first samples were taken on June 17. In order to make a better decision, it was necessary to test the crew again.

Since the first samples were taken, the mink herd has been subject to restrictions from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. This means that no animals and only a few people come in and out of the herd.

[Gert van der Hoek]

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration finds COVID-19 in a 3rd North Jutland mink herd

COVID-19 has been found in more than half of the animals in a third Northern Jerk herd.

News , Published: July 1, 2020

A mink herd in Hj?rring municipality with approx. 5,000 mink are infected with COVID-19. The government has decided that the herd must be killed for reasons of precaution. The Food Board on Monday tested the herd. This was because people related to the mink farm told the Food Authority that they were found infected with COVID-19. The test results show that more than 50% of the herd is infected with COVID-19.

The mink farm is located in an area where the population of the local area has been affected by a virus strain that has led to the killing of two mink herds. It is not yet clear whether the third infected farm is infected with the same virus strain.

It is against this background that the government has decided that this third infected herd must also be killed on the basis of a precautionary principle. The National Board of Food expects the herd to be killed on Friday.

None of the three infected herds have been among the approx. 120 mink farms included in a national screening for COVID-19.

[Mary Wilson]

Wisconsin ag officials caution mink farmers after COVID-19 outbreaks in Europe

Chris Hubbuch | Wisconsin State Journal
Jun 29, 2020

Wisconsin animal health officials are warning the state’s mink farmers about the risk of COVID-19 coronavirus infection after reports of outbreaks among animals on multiple European farms.

There have been no documented cases of infection within Wisconsin’s $223 million mink industry, though producers say they are taking precautions to protect their herds and animal rights activists have renewed calls to ban the fur trade.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection earlier this month circulated guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Centers for Disease Control to veterinarians who work with Wisconsin’s mink ranches, said agency spokesman Kevin Hoffman.

Wisconsin, which had 67 mink farms as of the last USDA census, is the nation’s largest mink producer, supplying nearly half of the roughly 3 million U.S. pelts sold in 2018.

DATCP estimates the state’s fur exports that year were worth nearly $227 million.

https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/environment/wisconsin-ag-officials-caution-mink-farmers-after-covid-19-outbreaks-in-europe/article_80180947-7539-5104-bbc5-81b0736cd2db.html

[bertrand789]

d?sol?,
ce document ne me semble pas au niveau du su :

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_he...armed-mink.pdf

cela reconnait que 40% des humains peuvent ?tre asymptomatique ?

[Gert van der Hoek]

No findings of COVID-19 in 125 mink farms


The National Board of Food has completed a nationwide sample screening of mink herds for COVID-19 without finding the disease. Press release, issued by the Ministry of Environment and Food 4.7.2020

News , Published: July 4, 2020


No COVID-19 has been found in the 125 mink herds tested by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration over the past two weeks for the disease. This is the result of a national screening in which the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has sampled 10 percent of the Danish mink farms.

[bertrand789]

Il y a un monde entre la d?marche europ?enne, et les am?ricains ...

[Gert van der Hoek]

All mink farms now have to be tested for covid-19


HOLSTEBRO: Now all the country's mink farms have to be tested for Covid-19. This is reflected in the government's new strategy for testing mink farms - and at the same time it has been decided that mink should not be slaughtered even if the herd is ill.


All mink breeders must submit samples of five mink for inspection twice within three weeks.

[Gert van der Hoek]

North Jutland mink farm examined for corona

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is investigating the case further with breeders in Hj?rring Municipality.

Aug 14, 2020

After no signs of infection were found on Danish mink farms throughout July, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is now investigating whether there is corona in a North Jutland mink breeder.

Chairman of the North Jutland fur breeders John Elling says that the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration examines the dead mink from a breeder in Hj?rring Municipality.

- It is at a screening conducted this week that corona has apparently been found, says John Elling.

After three cases of outbreaks of coronavirus on North Jutland mink farms in June, the government adopted a monitoring program of the Danish mink farms, which initially meant a random check of 10 percent of Danish breeders, where no corona was found in the 125 mink herds examined.

In addition, the monitoring program also meant that mink breeders had to send samples from five dead mink for further examination in weeks 30, 31 and 32.

- And here there were no cases of corona in Denmark - and thus not with the breeder in question in Hj?rring Municipality. But it is during the second screening round, which has started this week, that corona has apparently been found in the dead mink at the breeder in Hj?rring Municipality, says John Elling.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Fourth mink farm infected with COVID-19

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has found a fourth mink farm, which is infected with COVID-19. The mink farm is now subject to stricter restrictions to avoid the spread of infection.

Press release , Published: 14 August 2020

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is currently testing all Danish mink farms for COVID-19. This is done as part of the government's strategy to ensure close COVID-19 monitoring of the farms.

The first 925 mink farms were tested without COVID-19 being found. On Friday afternoon, however, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration was able to ascertain COVD-19 in a mink farm in Hj?rring Municipality.

This is the fourth mink farm to be found positive for COVID-19. All four mink farms are located in North Jutland.

"To avoid infection outside the farm, the infected mink farm is now subject to strict restrictions. This means, among other things, that visitors must wear a special mask and that you must take a shower and wash your clothes after entering the farm. , "says Nikolas Hove, emergency manager at the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

He says that the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has also gone through the mink farm's enclosure to minimize the risk of mink escaping. The mink owner must also regularly count his mink to document that no one has run away.

After the first finds of COVID-19 in Danish mink in June, the government decided to set strict requirements for infection protection on all approximately 1,200 mink farms in Denmark. For example, everyone today must wear a sanitary napkin when inside a mink farm, and mink owners must make a detailed plan for infection protection.

With the new intensified measures, the government assesses that it is justifiable to let infected mink herds live, as the risk of infection spreading is minimized.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Covid-19 can be transmitted from mink to humans, research on North Jutland farms shows



Nevertheless, the authorities no longer recommend that the mink be culled.


A total of four mink farms in Denmark have been affected by covid-19 since the first case of infection on 17 June.

And in at least one case, mink has been transmitted to humans.

This is the assessment of a research group from Aalborg University and the Statens Serum Institut, respectively, which for some months has analyzed all the virus genomes in Denmark.

But even though scientists now know it could happen, authorities do not recommend that mink herds be slaughtered, as they did at the start of the epidemic .
- We must maintain that covid-19 is first and foremost contagious between people, says the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration's emergency manager, Nikolas K?hn Hove.

Infection affected mink first

For a long time, it was discussed whether there was actually a risk of infection being able to pass from mink to humans.

It was also against this background that in the first three cases of infection on Danish mink farms, it was decided that the minks should be killed. This was done based on a precautionary principle to avoid the spread of infection.

Since then, the guidelines have changed.