Preliminary report of an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in mink and mink farmers associated with community spread, Denmark, June to November 2020

Euro Surveill. 2021 Feb;26(5):2100009. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.5.210009.

Abstract

In June-November 2020, SARS-CoV-2-infected mink were detected in 290 of 1,147 Danish mink farms. In North Denmark Region, 30% (324/1,092) of people found connected to mink farms tested SARS-CoV-2-PCR-positive and approximately 27% (95% confidence interval (CI): 25-30) of SARS-CoV-2-strains from humans in the community were mink-associated. Measures proved insufficient to mitigate spread. On 4 November, the government ordered culling of all Danish mink. Farmed mink constitute a potential virus reservoir challenging pandemic control.

Keywords: COVID-19; Neovison vison; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; mink.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild / virology*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / transmission
  • COVID-19 / veterinary*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary*
  • Disease Reservoirs / veterinary*
  • Disease Reservoirs / virology
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious / veterinary*
  • Farms
  • Genes, Viral
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Mink / virology*
  • Pandemics / veterinary*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Public Health
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • SARS-CoV-2 / classification
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification*
  • Viral Zoonoses / transmission*
  • Viral Zoonoses / virology
  • Whole Genome Sequencing
  • Zoonoses / transmission
  • Zoonoses / virology

Substances

  • RNA, Viral