First US cases of coronavirus in mink found at two Utah farms

[Mary Wilson]

Posted at 12:32 PM, Aug 17, 2020
and last updated 1:39 PM, Aug 17, 2020

By: David Wells


SALT LAKE CITY — The United States Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Service Laboratory has announced the country's first cases of SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) found in mink, and all five cases were found at two mink farms in Utah.

The Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory conducted necropsies on several dead mink from the two farms after receiving reports that mink fatalities were uncommonly high. Both farms have been completely quarantined, a news release from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food said.

Although these cases are the first for the United States, the Netherlands has also confirmed cases of coronavirus in mink.

Both mink farms, which were not identified, also reported COVID-19 cases in their staff members.

https://www.fox13now.com/news/coron...ronavirus-in-mink-confirmed-at-two-utah-farms

 

[Mary Wilson]

USDA Confirms SARS-CoV-2 in Mink in Utah

Last Modified: Aug 17, 2020

... After unusually large numbers of mink died at the farms, the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory completed necropsies on several of the affected animals. Samples were forwarded and tested presumptive positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Both laboratories are members of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. The presumptive positive samples were then sent to NVSL for confirmatory testing.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2020/sa-08/sare-cov-2-mink

 

[Emily]

https://kslnewsradio.com/1924483/coronavirus-utah-mink-farms/

Live Mic: Coronavirus biting down on Utah mink farms
By Curt Gresseth
May 4, 2020 at 4:00 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has nearly shut down Utah mink farms.

Clayton Beckstead, Utah Farm Bureau Northeastern regional manager, joined Lee Lonsberry on Live Mic. They discussed how COVID-19 is impacting Utah mink farms and farmers and the industry as a whole.

“Man, this coronavirus has just been detrimental to our industry,” Beckstead said. “The majority of our products go overseas to China. So with all the travel restrictions and lockdowns in place, we haven’t been able to sell any of our products.”

 

[Mary Wilson]

Thousands of minks dead in coronavirus outbreak on Utah farms

by: JoNel Aleccia, Kaiser Health News and Nexstar Media Wire

Posted: Oct 5, 2020 / 02:32 PM CDT/ Updated: Oct 5, 2020 / 02:33 PM CDT

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.

... Between 7,000 and 8,000 minks have died since the disease swept through the ranches that produce the animals, valued for their luxurious pelts. So far, no animals in Utah have been euthanized because of the disease, and it doesn’t appear to be necessary, Taylor said.

https://www.kark.com/news/national-...erral&utm_source=t.co&utm_campaign=socialflow