Ranchers in US states of Utah and Wisconsin have lost almost 8,000 mink to coronavirus. The animals known for their silky fur, are said to have contracted the virus from humans. According to a study published in Scientific Reports, animals that come regularly in contact with humans can contract the virus.
The virus spreading among mink was first reported in August and has been reported in other countries too. Denmark, the world’s largest producer of mink, culled animals affected by the virus, but the infection has persisted. In May, 93,000 mink from a farm in Spain were culled after finding out that most of them were infected with the coronavirus to prevent the infection from being spread to humans.
Dr Dean Taylor, State Veterinarian of Utah told CNN, "Everything we've looked at here in Utah suggests it's gone from the humans to the animals. It feels like a unidirectional path," adding that testing is still underway. Utah's was the first outbreak among mink in the US. Symptoms in mink are similar to that of humans infected with the virus— difficulty in breathing, but with crusting around the eyes.
The virus, however, spreads rapidly in minks and several of the infected animals were dead in one day. Coats obtained from most of the mink in the farm have been incinerated or buried. Each farm is following protocol with only essential workers on the site with equipment being disinfected regularly.
