ODENSE: The world’s largest mink producer, Denmark, has decided to cull about 17 million minks after a mutated form of coronavirus that can spread to humans was found on mink farms.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in a statement, said nearly 12 people were already infected with the mutated virus and that the mink is now considered a public health risk.
“The mutated virus in mink may pose a risk to the effectiveness of a future vaccine,” Frederiksen said, adding that coronavirus has been detected at 207 Danish mink farms.
Denmark is the world’s largest producer of mink fur and has 15 to 17 million animals on about 1,100 farms. Its main export markets are China and Hong Kong. The culling began late last month after many mink cases were detected.
“The mutated virus could have serious negative consequences for the whole world’s response to the ongoing pandemic,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, adding that it has become necessary to cull all the minks.
She further informed that the army, police, and national emergency service would be mobilised to help farms with the mink cull, which will eradicate the entire Danish herd.
