Lithuania detects Covid-19 in mink and 5 mink workers

[Gert van der Hoek]

In one Lithuanian mink farm, samples were taken after the sudden death of 169 animals for coronavirus infection. Unfortunately, the fears were confirmed - the first infections were found in Lithuanian mink.


A case of coronavirus infection was reported on a mink farm in the Jan?w region. This is the first such case in Lithuania, the press service of the State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) reports. The outbreak was detected on a farm owned by Danmink and Vilkijos ukis.

VMVT announced that preliminary information reached them on Tuesday. On the same day, the samples were sent to the laboratory of the National Institute for Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment, and on Wednesday 22 additional samples were collected. At the same time, it turned out that one of the farm employees was diagnosed with coronavirus, reports Sputnik Lithuania.

Immediately after receiving information about the suspicion of infection, restrictions were introduced on the farm from November 24. Any export of animals, feed or other animal products from the infected farm is prohibited. It was decided to put about 40 mink to sleep and dispose of them safely.

VMVT director Darius Remeyka said the results showed that the virus could have been transmitted by a farm worker. He called on farms to strictly adhere to biological safety requirements.

[Gert van der Hoek]

In Lithuania - first cases of coronavirus in mink

The first cases of coronavirus infection in mink have been confirmed in Lithuania.

Coronavirus was found in mink breeding on a farm located in the Jonawa region.

“After the mink suddenly began to die on the farm, samples were taken. After the tests, it turned out that the animals were infected - commented Jurgita Savickaitė, representative of the National Food and Veterinary Service.

The coronavirus is spreading on the farm belonging to the company "Danmink", the main shareholder of which is "Vilkijos ūkis".

A mutant strain of the virus in mink was first detected in Denmark, then also in Spain, Sweden, the USA and other countries. It is forbidden to import mink from these countries into Lithuania since mid-November.

Currently, 86 farms all over the country breed over 1,600 thousand. mink.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Minkfarm - 3 cases of coronavirus in individuals

Three cases of COVID-19 disease have been identified in individuals in a mink farm operating in Jonava district , the National Public Health Center (NVSC) reported on Friday .

[Gert van der Hoek]

Snip OIE-report

Causal agent

SARS-CoV2

Outbreak 1 (1)	Jonava, Kaunas
Date of start of the outbreak	26/11/2020
Outbreak status	Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit	Farm
Affected animals	Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) 60000 324 324
Affected population	The minks were bred for their fur in a farm. Evidence of contamination was established within the framework of passive surveillance due to increased mortality. 169 minks were found dead and randomly 10 were sampled and tested by PCR and were positive to SARS-CoV2. Next day out of 155 found dead 22 were sampled and all tested positive to SARS-CoV2 by PCR. In total 5 farm workers were detected positive to COVID-19.

Measures applied	Movement control inside the country Quarantine Selective killing and disposal Disinfection Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists) No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied	No other measures