On January 4, the Danish government said it would cull all mink in the country, up to 15 to 17 million of them. Previously, Denmark found that mutated neoconaviruses infecting mink on farms can be transmitted to humans. The Prime Minister announced on the 5th; special restrictions were imposed on Denmark’s 280,000 inhabitants. A French veterinarian recommended the immediate closure of mink farms in France.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen noted that day that the neo-crown virus had mutated in mink and that the mutated virus had been transmitted to humans. Because the mutated virus is not inhibited by antibodies like regular neocoronaviruses, it may render the forthcoming vaccine ineffective.
The Danish Minister of Health, Magnus Heunicke, said that mutations of the new coronavirus have now been detected on five different mink farms in the country. The people infected with the mutated virus are not seriously ill, he says, but they do not respond positively to antibodies: “Studies have shown that these mutations may affect current neo-crown vaccine candidates and pose a threat to the development of a vaccine. That’s why we need a national effort.” The number of people infected with the mutated neo-coronavirus has reached 12, but none of the illnesses are serious.
Denmark is the world’s largest producer of mink. According to the BBC, Denmark will cull 17 million mink from more than 1,000 farms, which local police chief Fugard says will be a “huge task.
The president of the Danish Mink Farmers Association believes that the government’s decision will be a disaster for the industry and for Denmark. The mink farmers will receive full compensation for the cull, which Danish media say will amount to 5 billion Danish kroner.
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