Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
The Bulgarian health authorities said on Friday (6 November) they have ordered mass PCR testing for COVID-19 of people in the vicinity of the two mink farms in the country, following the recent mink-related health scare in Denmark. Chief State Health Inspector Angel Kunchev announced the news exclusively to EURACTIV Bulgaria.
The initiative came after the announcement by Denmark that minks had become infected with the coronavirus, which mutates in them and is then transmitted to humans. The newly mutated virus has the potential to compromise the effects of vaccines currently under development.
The largest mink farm in Bulgaria is located in the village of Madjerito near Stara Zagora. As of last year, 130,000 minks were bred there annually. Their skin is exported at a price between 25 and 30 euros per unit.
The initiative came after the announcement by Denmark that minks had become infected with the coronavirus, which mutates in them and is then transmitted to humans. The newly mutated virus has the potential to compromise the effects of vaccines currently under development.
The largest mink farm in Bulgaria is located in the village of Madjerito near Stara Zagora. As of last year, 130,000 minks were bred there annually. Their skin is exported at a price between 25 and 30 euros per unit.