According to experts, the occurrence of COVID-19 on a single BC mink farm is essential

According to experts, the severity of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on BC mink farms depends on whether authorities can contain it in a single facility.

On Friday, the state confirmed that 200 minks had died on the farm, probably due to the virus. It was a few days after the tests revealed that at least five minks in the facility were COVID positive. Eight workers also tested positive.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the farm has not been identified “due to potential safety concerns.”

Sally Otto, a professor of zoology at the University of British Columbia, said the mink farm is an ideal breeding ground for the virus due to its high density and high contact rates.

“The real danger is that it spreads from farm to farm,” she said.

“Thousands of minks have died in other US jurisdictions. As you know in Denmark, mink can become a repository of this very large COVID, mutating, changing and returning. It has been slaughtered nationwide to reduce risk. To humans. “

Earlier this year, Denmark disposed of 17 million animals after evidence showed that animals could infect humans with a mutant virus.

Alan Herscovici, founding editor of Truthaboutfur.com and former director of the Canadian Far Council, said he was confident that the outbreak could be contained on Saturday.

Herscovici said Canadian farms implemented strict biosecurity protocols when they learned that mink was vulnerable last spring.

“That is, access to the farm was as restricted as possible. Like us, people who come into contact with animals wear masks, PPEs, and different coats. Um, contact with animals. You need to test before you do, “he said.

6:53Outbreak of Fraser Valley Mink Farm COVID-19 raises concerns about viral mutations

Herscovici claimed in Denmark that 1,100 farms with millions of animals are clustered in an area about the size of Vancouver Island, and that Canada’s industry is much smaller and more expansive.

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“There is no risk of similar transmission,” he said.

“It was a big advantage for them that they were focused on Denmark … it made them very efficient, but unfortunately it became their failure when attacked by this virus.”

According to the latest statistics from Agriculture and Agrifood Canada There were 98 mink farms in Canada.. According to BC SPCA, there are 13 farms in British Columbia, most of which are in the Fraser Valley, harvesting more than 250,000 animals each year.

Dr. Jan Hájek, an infectious disease specialist at the University of British Columbia, said mutations in the virus carried by Danish mink proved less worrisome than initially thought.

Hajek said the initial concern that the mutation would immunize the virus against the COVID-19 vaccine under development is not supported.

However, studies have shown that it can affect the ability of COVID-19 to resist antibodies such as those used in Regeneron COVID-19 therapy, he said.

Hajek warned that if COVID-19 spreads to mink or beyond to other animals, other problems may occur.

“One of the risks is that it can enter the host of these other animals and set up a reservoir.

“There are risks we can tolerate and risks we shouldn’t tolerate, and we need to determine if this is one of the risks that is worth the benefits to us.”

Animal rights groups have made it clear that the interests of the industry are not worth it.

Rebecca Aldworth, Executive Director of the Humane Society International Canada, described the farm as a “miserable factory” and insisted that the industry should be closed.

2:05Increased concern about mutations over COVID-19 outbreaks on BC mink farms

According to Aldworth, animals are trapped in an inhumane state with clear signs of psychological stress.

“These are highly intelligent semi-aquatic animals that roam vast territories in the wild,” she said.

“At mink farms, they are packed in small barren wire cages that sit on top of rotting excrement. The smell and sound are just overwhelming.”

The current outbreak of COVID-19 is an opportunity for people to learn how to operate their farms, Aldworth said, adding that he hopes it will increase public pressure on the industry.

According to state officials, outbreaks remain confined to a single farm, most minks are asymptomatic, and mortality is “lately late.”

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, workers are likely to have infected animals with the virus because the farm is quarantined, but the first source is under investigation.

Ministry officials said they had inspected all mink farms in the state to confirm compliance with standard biosecurity measures and enhanced COVID-19 practices.

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